It is a good thing Lewis Hamilton has the 2020 Formula 1 championship sewn up. Why? Because the elite British driver has tested positive for COVID-19 and it was announced Tuesday he will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix and may yet miss the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton will miss this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain after a positive test for Covid-19 pic.twitter.com/c0XCfyDmWZ
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 1, 2020
“In accordance with COVID-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain he (Hamilton) is now isolating,” said an FIA statement. “The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula 1 will ensure no wider impact on this weekend’s event.”
Incredibly Careful
AutoSport1 explained how careful Hamilton has been yet the insidious coronavirus managed to infect him. He will miss the first race of a career that started in 2007.
… The surprise of Hamilton’s positive test is increased by the fact that the Mercedes driver had been one of the strictest when it came to trying to keep himself isolated from others.
At the races, he steered clear of staying in hotels and instead lived out of his motorhome.
There was also limited contact with team members, with all meetings being done on Zoom, in order to try to minimise the risks of infection.
As Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “The drivers are the most restricted of the whole group, of the whole team.
Hamilton tested negative three times last week but didn’t feel well Monday. Another test turned up a positive result. A fellow Mercedes driver wished him well.
Wished Speedy Recovery
Wish you a speedy recovery @LewisHamilton 🙏 Keep strong! https://t.co/1ZKQNohdCV
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) December 1, 2020
Already Clinched
Hamilton, who Sunday’s race, has already clinched his seventh F1 championship. His victory at the Turkish Grand Prix in mid-November sealed the championship and his seventh title. Hamilton matched Michael Schumacher’s record tally and in doing so becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time.
