Sebastian Vettel: nail-biter about Formula 1 races in Saudi Arabia – Hülkenberg is already rehearsing for emergencies

Created: 03/24/2022, 14:41

By: Christoph Klaucke

Sebastian Vettel also threatens to miss the second Formula 1 race because of his corona infection.

Substitute Nico Hulkenberg is already in Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah - In Formula 1*, things are happening in quick succession.

The spectacular first race of the season in Bahrain is followed by the Bahrain Grand Prix just a week later this weekend.

And Sebastian Vettel has to watch.

The ex-world champion is waiting in his adopted country of Switzerland for the redeeming negative corona test.

A nail-biter.

Sebastian Vettel: Second Formula 1 race in Saudi Arabia in danger - race against time

Sebastian Vettel also threatens to miss the second race in the new Formula 1 season.

While all his colleagues gradually trundled into Saudi Arabia, the man from Heppenheim sat at home in Switzerland and stared at his corona test.

But he put a spanner in the works for him in the truest sense of the word.

Vettel continues to carry the corona virus, although he seems to feel fit.

"Sebastian Vettel has not yet submitted the required negative COVID test to fly to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix," his Aston Martin team said on Thursday.

This means that Nico Hülkenberg could again step in as a substitute on the ultra-fast street circuit.

"We will postpone our final decision until Friday to give Seb every opportunity to race," it said.

Sebastian Vettel also threatens to miss the second Formula 1 race because of Corona.

© Jerry Andre/Imago

Sebastian Vettel caught in Corona quarantine - decision on Friday

Sebastian Vettel is in a Corona jam, the 34-year-old had already missed the start a week ago in Bahrain - and thus the start of a new Formula 1 era.

Vettel had already booked a flight for Thursday.

Now it's all about hoping and worrying that he can get on the plane on Friday.

Vettel had tested positive for the virus the previous week and had quarantined himself in his adopted home of Switzerland.

For the man from Heppenheim, it's the worst possible start to his second season with the private British team.

In the new racing year with heavily changed rules and completely new cars, the four-time world champion wanted to catch up with the top again after the previous season had been largely sobering.

Formula 1: Vettel replacement Nico Hulkenberg is already in the starting blocks

Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg is preparing for the next unexpected assignment.

On Thursday, the Emmericher landed in Jeddah, after he had previously sniffed the previously unknown route on the Red Sea in the simulator in the factory.

"I'm just preparing for it now, because we don't know how Seb is doing and whether he can drive or not," Hulkenberg told

.

Whether Vettel or Hülkenberg is in the Aston Martin at the end, neither of them will end up in front on Sunday.

The car of such an ambitious team is simply not good enough, "just a bit lacking in performance," said Hülkenberg.

"There are just a few construction sites that need to be addressed." Hülkenberg was 17th at the start and last, colleague Lance Stroll was 12th and clearly missed the points.

Sebastian Vettel fears for Formula 1 races in Saudi Arabia

Vettel may also be happy that he does not currently have to deal with the inferior Aston Martin.

Formula 1 expert Ralf Schumacher recently criticized the racing team.

The former BMW driver gave Stroll a violent slap.

We'll keep you up to date on whether Vettel can still ride in Saudi Arabia.