Nico Hulkenberg gets second chance at Racing Point after Sergio Perez tests positive again
ByReuters
Updated 07/08/2020 at 09:55 GMT
Nico Hulkenberg will continue as a stand-in for Racing Point at Formula One's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix on Sunday after Mexican Sergio Perez again tested positive for Covid-19, the team have announced.
Nico Hülkenberg (Racing Point)
Image credit: Getty Images
The 32-year-old German was drafted in to his old team for last weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, alongside regular driver Lance Stroll, but ended up not even starting the race after an engine problem.
"Sergio's test has returned a positive result and he will continue to follow the guidance of Public Health England," Racing Point said. "He is physically well and recovering."
The team had said on Thursday that Perez's quarantine period was over and they were waiting on the test to see whether he could race.
Perez first tested positive for Covid-19 at Silverstone last week, and posted on social media that after competing at the Hungary Grand Prix he had returned to Mexico by private plane to be with his mother, who had suffered an accident and was in hospital.
Hulkenberg raced for Renault last season but lost his seat to Frenchman Esteban Ocon, and revealed last week that he had been en route to the Nurburgring when he was asked to step in to the Racing Point hot seat.
Hulkenberg and Perez shared images on social media showing that they had been speaking via video call.
The German, a Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar winner, has never made it as far as the F1 podium in 177 starts but is stepping into a pink Mercedes-lookalike car capable of challenging the top teams.
"I’m excited to get going again with the team at Silverstone. Last weekend, it was a real step into the unknown having been away from the team for a few years -- and driving a car I’d never driven before," he said.
"I’ve learned a lot in the last week about the RP20, and I am ready to apply my experiences to this weekend. Racing at the same track again makes things a bit easier and the team has done a great job in helping me get up to speed.
"I think we can fight for points this weekend, which is definitely my goal."
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement