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Lance Stroll tested positive for coronavirus after the Eifel Grand Prix but says he has since been cleared of the virus and will race in Portugal this weekend.
The Racing Point Formula 1 driver withdrew from the Nurburgring race two weeks ago on Saturday morning, which the team said was because he had become unwell.
It later emerged that Stroll had suffered flu-like symptoms since the Russian GP but his team boss Otmar Szafnauer insisted multiple COVID-19 tests had come back negative.
Stroll tested negative for the coronavirus on the Tuesday before travelling to Germany.
FIA protocols mean he did not need to take another test until Sunday, even though he continued to feel unwell and his condition apparently worsened overnight Friday to Saturday.
Szafnauer claimed Stroll was feeling better on Sunday and free to travel home – but Stroll has now revealed that on Sunday evening he took another COVID test, which was positive.
“I just want to let everyone know that I recently tested positive for Covid-19 after the Eifel GP weekend. I am feeling 100% and have since tested negative,” Stroll said in a statement.
“To fill you in on what happened, I arrived at the Nurburgring after testing negative in the normal pre-race tests.
“On Saturday morning I started to feel unwell and woke up with an upset stomach. I followed the FIA protocol and self-isolated in my motorhome and did not re-enter the paddock.
“I wasn’t fit to race so I flew home early Sunday morning. As I was still feeling under the weather I took a COVID test on Sunday evening.
“The next day the results came back positive.”
— Lance Stroll (@lance_stroll) October 21, 2020
Stroll says he stayed at home in isolation for 10 days with “mild” symptoms then tested again on Monday this week and the result was negative.
That means Stroll, who says he feels in “great shape”, is travelling to Algarve and says he “can’t wait to be back with the team and to race in Portugal”.
Nico Hulkenberg (above) deputised for Racing Point in Stroll’s absence. He started last after only driving the car in qualifying, missing final practice, but finished in the points in eighth.
Stroll’s coronavirus case means both Racing Point race drivers have contracted COVID-19 this season.
Team-mate Sergio Perez missed the two races at Silverstone.
