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Nico Hulkenberg will deputise for Sergio Perez at Racing Point in Formula 1’s 70th-anniversary race at Silverstone after all, as Perez has tested positive for COVID-19 again.
Hulkenberg was called up by Racing Point last week when Perez contracted coronavirus but ended up missing the race as well because of a problem getting the engine to fire up.
He seemed almost certain to extend his stand-in period for a second grand prix weekend as on the day of Perez’s negative result, Public Health England guidelines changed to stipulate the period a person who tests positive for COVID must spend in quarantine as 10 days – which would have ruled him out of the second Silverstone weekend.
But Racing Point would not initially commit to Hulkenberg racing again as it sought clarification from PHE on whether Perez only had to seven days in isolation, which was the rule when he took his initial, inconclusive, test last Wednesday.
Ahead of the 70th Anniversary GP’s media activities this week, it was revealed that PHE had determined Perez’s mandatory quarantine period was complete at just seven days after all.
Perez undertook another COVID-19 test on Thursday to see if the virus had left his body but on Friday morning, Racing Point confirmed that Perez is not clear to return and Hulkenberg will get a second chance at his F1 comeback.
“I’m excited to get going again with the team at Silverstone,” said Hulkenberg.
“Last weekend, it was a real step into the unknown having been away from the team for a few years – and driving a car I’d never driven before.
“I’ve learned a lot in the last week about the RP20, and I am ready to apply my experiences to this weekend.
“Racing at the same track again makes things a bit easier and the team has done a great job in helping me get up to speed.
“I think we can fight for points this weekend, which is definitely my goal.
“I also want to wish Checo all the best in his recovery.”
Team boss Otmar Szafnauer said: “Nico did a really strong job last weekend after receiving a last-minute call to drive for us at Silverstone, and he proved why he was an obvious choice to stand in for Checo.
“It was a big shame he couldn’t actually take the start of the race last Sunday, but all that hard work will prove very useful for this weekend.
“We miss having Checo with us, but we wish him well and look forward to welcoming him back into the team in the near future.”
