F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Racing Point '99% sure' Perez will return in Barcelona

Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer is "99% sure" Sergio Perez will return to action in Barcelona this week in the wake of a probable negative COVID-19 test.

Perez tested positive for the coronavirus before the British Grand Prix weekend and subsequently remained in quarantine where a second positive test kept the Mexican on the sidelines for last weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Racing Point drafted in Nico Hulkenberg to fill Perez's seat and the German will remain on stand-by for the Spanish Grand Prix.

"It seems like the amount of virus in his [Perez] system is coming down significantly from test to test," Szafnauer explained at Silverstone.

"He tested again [on Saturday]. I anticipate either by the time we get the result, or we get a result early next week, he will be in the negative range.

"I think by the time we get to Barcelona, he'll be back in the car. But I'm trying to guess the future. If that doesn't happen, then don't crucify me because I can't predict the future.

"But just looking at the rate of the virus leaving his system, if it's linear, he should be OK by the time he gets back to Barcelona."

Szafnauer confirmed that Hulkenberg - who finished seventh in Sunday's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone - will remain Racing Point's reserve driver in Barcelona.

"If [Perez] wasn't in the car, it would be Nico," said the American.

"I was 99% sure that Nico would be in the car for both Silverstones, and now 99% sure that Checo will be in the car for Spain."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Marko: ‘No chance at all’ for Red Bull in Las Vegas

Helmut Marko believes that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are unlikely to challenge for victory…

6 hours ago

GM revives bid to join F1 with accelerated talks for 2026 entry

Automotive giant General Motors is reportedly back in the game as a potential entrant in…

8 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Thursday's action in pictures

The opening day of running at the Las Vegas GP was a smooth but chilly…

9 hours ago

Williams' headaches persist into Vegas practice

Williams is continuing to fight uphill battles this weekend in Las Vegas as a knock-on…

10 hours ago

Ferrari's Sainz 'not satisfied with where we are' in Vegas

It was a solid start to the Las Vegas weekend for Ferrari with Carlos Sainz…

11 hours ago

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

12 hours ago