Sebastian Vettel has been ruled out of the 2022 Formula One opener after testing positive for Covid-19.The Aston Martin driver will be replaced by reserve driver Nico Hulkenburg for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.
Hulkenburg will take fellow German Vettel's seat from first practice on Friday and will be racing for the first time since the 2020 Eifel GP on Sunday.McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo also tested positive ahead of the first race of the season, causing him to miss the pre-season testing last week.
However, he will be returning in time to take his place alongside team-mate Lando Norris.Hulkenburg, who has not had a permanent seat on the F1 grid since the 2019 season, has proved to be a reliable stand-in when called on to cover for absent drivers.
He drove for Aston Martin, then branded as Racing Point, three times in the 2020 campaign.He stepped in for Sergio Perez for the two race weekends at Silverstone, and then replaced Lance Stroll for the inaugural Eifel GP which was held at Germany's Nürburgring.