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Almost two years following the global pandemic paralyzed Europe and practically the entire world, COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in Formula 1. If a week ago it was Daniel Ricciardo the affectedhaving to miss the three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain, now the protagonist is Sebastian Vettel.
First affected since Mazepin
This time it is not regarding testing but regarding the first race of the season. As Aston Martin has communicated, Vettel has given positive results in the PCR tests that continue to be carried out regularly in the Formula 1 world, so the driver must isolate himself in the hotel and will not be able to take part in the Grand Prix.
It will be the first race that the German driver misses since he was named Formula 1 driver midway through the 2007 season. Aston Martin is once once more the team most affected by COVID following in 2020 its two drivers, Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez, passed the aforementioned disease. In the case of Pérez, missing two racesthose held at Silverstone, and in the case of Stroll, the one held in Germany.
In addition to the aforementioned drivers, Lewis Hamilton was also forced to miss an appointment, fortunately, when he had already been proclaimed world champion, in the final stretch of the season. In 2021, Mazepin also gave a positive result in the last round of the season, missing the race. Other drivers such as Charles Leclerc have also suffered from the disease, although it has not affected the course of their season.
Hülkenberg, substitute once more
Aston Martin already has a substitute driver: Nico Hülkenberg, who has held the rank of reserve driver within the team since precisely Sergio Pérez tested positive in the 2020 season, then under the name of Racing Point. It will be the fourth race that the German driver who lost his seat at the end of 2019 has done substituting for a driver with COVID.
Unfortunately for him, Nico hasn’t had the opportunity to run this year’s car, which is noticeably different from previous years and which he did have in hand. The most positive news is that the German has done countless hours in the simulator for this same team, so the procedures will be known to him.
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