Sebastian Vettel to be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg in Bahrain after positive COVID test

Sebastian Vettel’s 2022 Formula 1 season has gotten off to a pretty rotten start with the German driver set to miss the curtain-raising Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend thanks to a positive COVID-19 test.

The Aston Martin ace would have been looking forward to the new campaign with all the new rules and regulations and the Silverstone-based team were feeling pretty upbeat after the two test periods in Barcelona and then Sakhir.

Indeed, the AMR22 looks a solid-enough machine at this early stage but it’s over a Grand Prix weekend you really see where you stack up, and that is what Vettel would have been looking forward to in the coming days.

The four-time world champion has been ruled out, though, with him returning a positive COVID-19 test and so Aston Martin’s reserve driver, Nico Hulkenberg, will now take his place.

Another German, Hulkenberg is a familiar face in the F1 paddock having racked up well over 100 Grands Prix and is a reliable, dependable pair of hands to be able to call upon.

A statement from the Aston Martin team read on Thursday morning:

“Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not, therefore, be taking part in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.

“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.”

He’s obviously not had anywhere near as much running in the new car as Vettel and Lance Stroll, of course, but he’ll be able to use Friday and Saturday’s practice sessions to at least try and get up to speed before qualifying.

It’s a reminder, meanwhile, that COVID is still causing a few issues in Formula 1 and elsewhere, and the sport will be eager to try and avoid future positive tests over the