Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for Covid-19 and will be replaced by Aston Martin reserve Nico Hulkenberg for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
"Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not therefore be taking part in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix," read a short statement from Aston Martin.
"Replacing him in the AMR22 will be Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team reserve driver Nico Hülkenberg, who will be in the car from FP1 onwards."
Vettel is the second driver in a week to contract the coronavirus, with McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo testing positive last week which prevented the Aussie from taking part in pre-season testing at Sakhir.
Ricciardo will however take part in this weekend's season opening event, having returned a negative test after undergoing seven days of isolation.
In 2020, Hulkenberg was called upon by Team Silverstone – racing then under the racing Point banner - to substitute for Sergio Perez in the British and 70th Anniversary Grands Prix at Silverstone after the Mexican had tested positive for Covid-19.
Later that season, the German driver also replaced Lance Stroll at the Eifel Grand Prix after the Canadian fell ill.
It has therefore been fifteen months since the Hulk last drove an F1 car, although he has sampled Aston new generation car in the team's simulator.
"From my initial experience however, the new cars are pretty damn fast and not necessarily slower than the last generation," Hulkenberg commented earlier this year.
"The driving experience hasn't changed that much either, at least in the simulator. It will be very interesting to see whether these cars can really follow the car in front better."
The Hulk is about to find out with some first hand experience.
The 34-year-old's unexpected return to the fray will also provide him with perhaps one final opportunity to shed an enviable record in F1: that of the the driver who has taken part in the most Grands Prix without ever scoring a podium!
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