Lance Stroll will not take part in final practice for Formula 1’s Eifel Grand Prix and is a doubt for qualifying.
The Racing Point driver had not completed an out-lap in the first 10 minutes of the session, before his team communicated he is “not feeling 100%” and will not participate at all.
His condition will be assessed after FP3 to evaluate if he is fit to drive.
Racing Point will then confirm its plans for qualifying. Stroll could be given dispensation to drive even though he has not taken part in practice.
However, if he is unfit to drive, Racing Point has two options to replace him with Nico Hulkenberg the most likely, subject to a negative COVID-19 test.
Racing Point has access to Mercedes’ reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez although when Racing Point required a stand-in for Sergio Perez earlier this season, it transpired Gutierrez is not eligible for a superlicence and couldn’t be used.
Vandoorne is on site at the Nurburgring and Mercedes will make him available if requested.
However, Hulkenberg was called up to replace Perez at the two Silverstone races Perez missed when he contracted COVID-19. So he has more recent experience and knows the team and car.
He is also on-site, having been lined up for media commitment this weekend. But he needs to pass a coronavirus test to be allowed into the paddock, so faces a wait for the result to be known in time for qualifying.
Stroll is eighth in the championship in a strong 2020 campaign.
He would be higher in the points but retired from the Tuscan and Russian Grands Prix after suffering a puncture at Mugello then being taken out on the opening lap at Sochi by Charles Leclerc.
