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Sebastian Vettel
Photo: IMAGO/Eleanor Hoad / IMAGO/Every Second Media
Sebastian Vettel is also absent from the second race of the Formula 1 season because of his corona infection. The 34-year-old cannot travel to Saudi Arabia, the Aston Martin team said.
As at the season opener in Bahrain, compatriot Nico Hulkenberg will once again step in as a substitute.
“Nico did well in Bahrain.
We are sure that it will be the same in Jeddah,” said the racing team.
Vettel had tested positive for the virus before the first race of the season.
His racing team had kept the decision about a deployment in Jeddah this weekend open until the very end.
Vettel, however, has to remain in quarantine in his adopted country of Switzerland.
He should then return to the car at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in two weeks.
After the weak start to the new World Cup year, Aston Martin is hit particularly hard by the loss of the four-time world champion.
At the start in Bahrain, regular driver Lance Stroll and substitute Hülkenberg had no chance and didn't score any points.
Right now, Vettel's experience in the further development of the apparently weakening new car would be important for the racing team.
After a radical rule reform, all teams drive heavily modified cars.
mfu/dpa