After witnessing that anyone – even a backmarker driver with no points or wins – could drive his Mercedes to near victory in last week’s 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, seven-time defending world champion Lewis Hamilton indicates that he feels much better and is awaiting a positive Covid-19 test and subsequent approvals to get back in the seat of his car for the Formula One 2020 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
After winning the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix on November 29, Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19 on December 1 and was prevented from driving in last week’s 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. Hamilton had to watch as Mercedes called up George Russell [who was tied for last place in the driver’s standings with zero points] from the last place Williams team and Russell proceeded to nearly get pole position as well as nearly win the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix had it not been for a number of inexplicable Mercedes pit crew errors.
Hamilton now reports he feels good and wants to drive in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend – but that will require, first, a negative test before he can leave isolation in Bahrain, and second, approval from the United Arab Emirates government to travel to Abu Dhabi on a day later this week.
If Hamilton does not recover in time, Russell is expected to again receive the call for the drive at the Yas Marina circuit.