Lewis Hamilton sits out Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID-19

Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton will be excluded from the Sakhir Grand Prix this coming weekend after testing positive for COVID-19.

Hosted in Bahrain, the race is the second in back-to-back races. Hamilton won the first in the series on Sunday, November 29. He is the third driver of the season to test positive during this season.

“In accordance with Covid-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain he (Hamilton) is now isolating,” the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, said in a statement.

Hamilton is not presenting with severe symptoms and is doing well, according to his team.

“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,” a statement from Hamilton’s Mercedes team said.

“Lewis therefore took a further test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by a retest.”

Mercedes have not announced who will replace him in the driver’s seat. It is yet to be seen whether he will produce a negative test by the time the final race of the season happens in Abu Dhabi.