Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) is positive for Covid-19 and will therefore forfeit the F1 Sakhir Grand Prix from Friday to Sunday in Bahrain, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and its team announced on Tuesday.
“He woke up Monday morning with mild symptoms and was informed at the same time that one of his contacts before his arrival in Bahrain
(the previous week, editor's note)
had tested positive, says Mercedes in a statement.
Lewis therefore took a test which turned out positive.
This has since been confirmed by another test ”.
His team sends him "wishes for a speedy recovery" and also specifies that, in accordance with protocol, Lewis Hamilton will be placed in solitary confinement.
Mercedes statement: "Lewis is now isolating in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
" Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery. "Https: // t .co / Qd0ROIZVBo
- Formula 1 (@ F1) December 1, 2020
"Apart from the mild symptoms, he is in good shape and in good health", adds Mercedes, who explains that his star driver was tested three times last week, in accordance with the protocols in force in F1 and Bahrain, for the last time. Sunday afternoon, and all of those tests came back negative.
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The name of his deputy will be announced "in due course".
The team has two reserve drivers: the Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne and the Mexican Esteban Gutiérrez.
Vandoorne, who drove in F1 in 2017 and 2018 with McLaren, is currently competing with Mercedes in the Formula E pre-season testing in Valencia, Spain.
It was expected even before Hamilton's positive test that he would join Bahrain after these tests, which end on Tuesday, said a spokesperson for the team.
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Hamilton secured the 2020 world champion title, his 7th in F1 (a record he shares with German Michael Schumacher), during the Turkish GP in mid-November.
Mercedes is sacred among manufacturers.
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