Lewis Hamilton recovers from coronavirus
Date: 11/12/2020
World champion Lewis Hamilton will return to the Formula One grid this weekend after recovering from Covid-19 on Thursday. Hamilton will race for Mercedes AMG Petronas within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday after getting a negative end in his latest test for coronavirus.
Hamilton had tested positive last week after waking up with mild symptoms after which he went into self-isolation in accordance with the health protocols in Bahrain.
"Lewis tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday before completion of his self-isolation period in Bahrain. This enabled him to visit Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon and he tested negative on arrival.
"Lewis has therefore completed the protocols required by the FIA for his entry to the paddock tomorrow and can be ready to participate within the race weekend," Mercedes said during a statement.
Hamilton clinched the drivers' championship last month in Turkey and features a big lead within the standings with 332 points, well before Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas (201) and Max Verstappen (189).
The British driver has won 11 races this season. But his absence in Sakhir means he won't be ready to win a 13th and equal Sebastian Vettel’s record, set in 2013 with Red Bull.
Hamilton, who was replaced eventually weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix by fellow Briton George Russell, had already arrived in Abu Dhabi after completing quarantine in Bahrain, Mercedes added.
Russell, who squandered an opportunity to face on stage within the last race and finished 9th behind Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, will now return to Williams for the weekend.
Hamilton was the third high-profile F1 driver to contract coronavirus after Racin Point's Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll, both of whom stood on stage in Sakhir.
Perez's win at a chaotic Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain was the primary by a Mexican since Pedro Rodriguez won the Belgian GP in June 1970. Perez finished 10.5 seconds before Renault's Esteban Ocon and 11.9 beyond teammate Lance Stroll.
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