F1 News: Sebastian Vettel Tests Positive With COVID-19 So Will Not Race At Bahrain GP
Sebastian Vettel will miss the opening race of the 2022 F1 Season after he tests positive for COVID-19. Stepping up to the plate will be Aston Martin reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.
This comes only days after Daniel Ricciardo received the go-ahead to race this weekend after he’d tested positive with COVID-19 late last week meaning he couldn’t attend pre-season testing at Bahrain. But while Ricciardo will now be racing this weekend, Vettel will be isolating.
UPDATE: Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore not be taking part in the 2022 #BahrainGP.
Replacing him in the AMR22 will be Reserve Driver @HulkHulkenberg, who will be in the car from FP1 onwards. #F1 pic.twitter.com/36wnI8LUAC
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 17, 2022
Vettel was yet to miss a race since the pandemic began, but Hulkenberg has raced for Racing Point, the team that became Aston Martin, in 2020 in place of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. He was commended for brilliant driving at the time, and has since not shied away from the chance to drive again.
The following race, the Saudi Arabian GP, is hosted on March 27, so fans are hoping Vettel will be able to relinquish his seat by testing negative before then.
Practice for the Bahrain GP begins Friday.
