Hülkenberg in reserve at Racing Point in Portimão

There is no question of being surprised again at the last minute. Racing Point has learned its lesson. And asked the luxury substitute Nico Hulkenberg to be ready in case we need him again. 

The German, who replaced Sergio Pérez during the Silverstone doubleheader at the beginning of August then was urgently recalled to the Nürburgring to replace Lance stroll, therefore made the trip to Portimão. 

« Nico is good with us, confirmed Otmar Szafnauer, CEO of Racing Point, this Thursday. And I believe that other teams have chosen to bring their reserves onto the field for the first time this year. It’s a common sense decision. ». 

Basically, Racing Point had an agreement in principle with its engine manufacturer Mercedes to call on official Star reserves, Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutiérrez. The Mexican's Super License is however inactive, while the Belgian discovered in Germany that Hülkenberg's experience with Racing Point and the presence of his equipment in the pink team's trucks made him the chosen candidate. 

• Racing Point once again defends its handling of the Stroll case

Szafnauer also returned to the circumstances of Lance Stroll's positive Covid-19 test on the evening of the Eifel GP. 

The Canadian, who had not been feeling well since the meeting in Sochi, had to withdraw a few hours before qualifying due to persistent stomach aches. 

Instead of referring the matter to the FIA ​​medical team and getting retested immediately, Stroll consulted a doctor who ruled that his symptoms were not related to Coronavirus. The Montrealer was therefore able to leave the country by private plane to return home to Switzerland where he was tested on Sunday evening before returning a positive result the next day. 

« Lance called his private doctor in Switzerland, explained Szafnauer. He had already seen it after Russia. We knew he had a stomach ache and we tested him several times, while Lance went to see this doctor in Switzerland.

It's always easy to be right after the fact but we must not forget that Lance was negative during the test carried out before the Eifel GP. And he had already had a pair of negative screenings after Russia. At the time of the facts, and in view of the information at our disposal, it did not cross our minds to go and do a new test ». 

Stroll is due to return to his place this weekend in Portugal after testing negative last Monday. The Canadian will have to carry out a new one after a modification of the FIA ​​Covid-19 Code of Conduct, which now requires the various stakeholders to present a negative result dating back less than 24 hours to gain access to the paddock. By bringing in Hülkenberg, Racing Point has at least secured its back.