FIA has announced Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will race in the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix from Friday to Sunday after having tested negative for Covid-19 on a number of occasions.
“Hamilton, who tested positive for the first time on November 30, spent 10 days in quarantine in Bahrain and arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday,”the FIA said in a statement.
F1 free practice starts on Friday, but the rules allow him not to get behind the wheel before qualifying on Saturday at dusk, like the race on Sunday.
Hamilton’s return means that George Russell, who finished ninth last week as a replacement for the champion, will return to Williams F1 team for Sunday’s race in Abu Dhabi.
Many are hoping to see the 22-year-old driver again with the Silver Arrows, so impressive was he last week. Without a failed pit stop and then a puncture which relegated him to ninth place in the final, he could have won!
“We are waiting for Lewis’ results. Until then, I prepare myself as if I was going to run for them. It broke my heart. But with hindsight, I come out with my head held high.” Hamilton said.
At Haas, the Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi, 24, is playing his second GP, after placing 17th for his first. He replaces Romain Grosjean, returned to Switzerland to treat his burns after his accident two weeks ago.
Still in the ranks of the American team, we will see the German Mick Schumacher, son of Michael, participate in free practice 1 with his team next year.
For Grosjean, the Abu Dhabi round was to be the last in F1, it will be for his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen, whom Haas has not renewed in 2021 either.
