Räikkönen positive for Covid-19 and replaced by Kubica

Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo) did not think he would leave the Grand Prix paddock so suddenly Formula 1 upon the announcement of his retirement at the end of 2021. The Finn will actually be absent from the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend following his positive case of Covid-19.

Following the latest round of testing conducted in advance of the #DutchGP, driver Kimi Räikkönen has tested positive for COVID-19.
Kimi is displaying no symptoms and is in good spirits. He immediately entered isolation in his hotel.
The team wishes Kimi a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/uqfsb1qz87

— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) September 4, 2021

The 41-year-old veteran (he will celebrate his 42nd birthday on October 17) does not, however, suffer from any symptoms, as his Alfa Romeo team wrote on social networks this Saturday, September 4 in the morning. “He immediately entered quarantine in his hotel. The team wishes him to recover as soon as possible. »

You will have understood, “Iceman” is only temporarily absent this month of September. While waiting for him to be immunized, another experienced driver will occupy his seat on the Zandvoort track: Robert Kubica.

The Polish guy, unfortunate hero of the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans in LM P2 (leader until the start of the last lap with his teammates Louis Delétraz and Yife Ye), will return to the starting grid of a Grand Prix for the first time since the 2019 Abu Dhabi GP.

At that time, the current Alfa Romeo reservist defended the interests of Williams, and even had the luxury of bringing home the only point of the season to the Grove team (Great Britain) during a particularly rainy German Grand Prix.