Affected by Covid-19, Lewis Hamilton withdraws from the Sakhir Grand Prix!

Thunderclap when you wake up on Tuesday, December 1st: Lewis Hamilton will be absent at the Sakhir Grand Prix (December 4-6). The Briton is positive for coronavirus, as announced by his team Mercedes, two days after signing his 11th victory of the 2020 season.

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—Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 1, 2020

“Lewis was tested three times last week and always had negative results,” his employer said in a Tweet. The last test in this series is. Produced on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain circuit as part of the usual Grand Prix testing procedure.

However, he woke up Monday morning with symptoms (of coronavirus) and was informed that a contact case before his arrival in Bahrain had tested positive. Lewis therefore passed a new test, this one positive. It was confirmed by a final test.

Lewis has placed himself in isolation in accordance with anti-Covid-19 protocols and recommendations from the authorities. Apart from these slight symptoms, he feels in good shape and the whole team sends him their best wishes for a recovery. »

The seven-time world champion will therefore be replaced at short notice, but by whom? The rumor machine is launched, because no identity has been revealed by the Etoile brand. However, a few names are surfacing. We first think of Esteban Gutiérrez, the Mexican being a reserve driver for Mercedes in F1.

Mercedes representative in Formula E Stoffel Vandoorne is also a legitimate candidate. The Belgian is currently a test driver for the F1 team and would have priority over his teammate Nyck de Vries. 

More experienced because he is already present in Formula 1, George Russell could benefit from a golden opportunity. The Englishman, protected by Toto wolff and Mercedes throughout its journey through the promotion formulas, is still looking to score its first point in its second season in the restive Williams with a Mercedes engine.

The current retiree from the circuits, Nico Hulkenberg, must also be licking his lips. Its passport is identical to that of the Stuttgart brand, its results show solid reliability and welcome adaptability. The winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans 2015 managed to set the third fastest time in a Racing Point at Silverstone this summer, replacing Sergio Pérez, who was suffering from Covid-19.