Perez set to return to action in Spain after negative COVID-19 test

Racing Point's Sergio Perez will be back behind the wheel this weekend in Barcelona after getting the all clear following a negative COVID-19 test.

Perez was sidelined by the coronavirus on the run-up to the British Grand Prix and placed in isolation, while Nico Hulkenberg was drafted in by Racing Point to replace the Mexican.

A second positive test before last weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix kept Perez on the sidelines, but a test conducted this week that came back with negative results will allow the 30-year-old to return to action at the Circuit de Catalunya.

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Racing Point team boss Otmar Szafnauer says the team was facing an unclear situation regarding its driver because of the unknown duration of the virus infection.

"We consulted a lot of experts, including the lab that we used for all of our staff at Silverstone, and we consulted the Eurofins experts as well," Szafnauer explained.

"You’ve got to remember, this coronavirus is a novel virus, which means people don’t know that much about it.

"The experts gave such a big range for when Checo would pass negative, that it was worthwhile doing. They gave us a range of one week to four or five weeks.

"They said any time in that range, he could test negative, and it was all dependent on when he was first infected, which nobody can predict.

"It made sense for us to try to get our contracted and our normal driver in as opposed to a stand in [for the 70th Anniversary race].

"I think we did absolutely the right thing to continue to test him, to see what was going to happen."

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