Sebastian Vettel out of Bahrain GP with COVID as Nico Hulkenberg fills in for Aston Martin

Germany's Nico Hulkenberg will replace Sebastian Vettel in Formula One's Bahrain season-opener after the four-times world champion tested positive for COVID-19, Aston Martin said on Thursday.

«Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not therefore be taking part in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix,» the team said in a statement.

Hulkenberg will replace Vettel alongside Lance Stroll from Friday's opening practice session. 

The German is the team's reserve driver and has stood in for them three times since he last raced full time in F1 with Renault in 2019.

The 34-year-old replaced Mexican Sergio Perez twice and Canadian Stroll once in 2020 when the Silverstone-based team competed as Racing Point, with both drivers testing positive for COVID-19.

His last race was the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring, when he replaced Stroll.

The 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours winner has started 179 Formula One grands prix, without standing on the podium, a record for most starts without a top-three finish.

Sunday's race is the start of a new era for Formula One, with cars designed to radically overhauled aerodynamic rules.

Vettel is the second driver to test positive for COVID-19 this month, with McLaren's Australian Daniel Ricciardo returning to the paddock on Thursday after a period of isolation.

Mercedes has raised eyebrows by removing the sidepods from its cars just a week out from the start of the Formula 1 season.

Formula One has relaxed its previously tight COVID-19 protocols this season.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who has twice contracted COVID-19, said it was important to remain careful.

«We need to be cautious between drivers and all of these things because COVID has not disappeared from one day to the other,» he said.

«And if