Lewis Hamilton to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for Covid-19

Lewis Hamilton will miss the second of the two Bahrain Grand Prix, after he tested positive for the coronavirus. The Mercedes driver returned three negative cases but began displaying mild symptoms on Monday and was informed that a contact prior to his arrival in Bahrain tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hamilton returned a positive test and will miss the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix. Mercedes have said in a statement that the driver is otherwise fit and is self-isolating under the guidelines. This is the first race Hamilton has missed in his 14 year long career, ending a record of 265 consecutive starts.

Lewis Hamilton showing mild symptoms

Lewis Hamilton had already clinched his record-equaling seventh World championship at Turkey three weeks ago. He won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, taking his total tally to 11 race wins this season. However, Hamilton will miss the forthcoming race in Bahrain after testing positive for the coronavirus.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mercedes said: “The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team regrets to announce that Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unable to take part in this weekend’s Sakhir GP. Lewis was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last of which was on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit as part of the standard race weekend testing programme,” the statement read.

“However, he woke up on Monday morning with mild symptoms and was informed at the same time that a contact prior to arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive. Lewis therefore took a further test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by a retest,” said Mercedes.

“Lewis is now isolating in accordance with COVID-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain. Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery,” Mercedes concluded their statement.

Also Read: “It doesn’t really matter, a second or third,” Max Verstappen on his chances of finishing 2nd in the F1 rankings