MEXICAN Formula 1 star Sergio Perez will miss Sunday’s British Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID-19.
Perez and some of his Racing Point teammates were self-isolating ahead of the race at Silverstone, after the popular Mexican driver’s initial test came back as inconclusive.
Racing Point said Perez, the first driver to test positive since the season restarted this month, was physically well and in good spirits, and that a reserve driver would take his place.
“Our intention is to race two cars on Sunday,” the team said.
“We will communicate the next steps for our British Grand Prix weekend in due course.”
Racing Point shares reserve drivers with engine supplier Mercedes, who have Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez available as a replacement for Perez — but there’s also talk of Nico Hulkenberg getting back into the driver’s seat.
The German ace drove for Racing Point in earlier years when it was called Force India, then moved to Renault as teammate to Daniel Ricciardo.
Hulkenberg, regarded as one of Formula 1’s most talented drivers, holds the record for the most races without a podium finish.
If he is chosen to drive the second ‘Pink Mercedes’ as the Racings Point cars are often called, a maiden podium finish is quite possible.
Their pace has been a highlight of the limited season so far, usually ahead of main rivals Ferrari, McLaren and Renault.
Meanwhile, the team said it wished its star driver well and looked forward to welcoming him back once he had recovered.
Perez had not been back to Mexico since he last raced in Hungary on July 19.
A small group of team members who had come into contact with the driver were also self-isolating and being retested.
The sport had reported only two positive results, neither involving people who attended races, from more than 15,000 tests carried out from June 26 to July 23.
Nico Hulkenberg
Racing Point
No plan B
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