BREAKING: Sebastian Vettel will return to F1 from the Australian GP
The 4 time world champion had tested positive for COVID-19 just days before the Bahrain GP, and had to sit out the first two races as a result.
Sebastian Vettel will be returning to the F1 cockpit from next week’s Australian GP onwards, all fit and having fully recovered from COVID. An Australian season opener for German driver as the 4-time world champion missed out the season-opening Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, wherein the team’s Vettel’s fellow countryman Nico Hulkenberg took up the duties and drove for Aston.
Vettel’s absence from a race weekend was the first time he had missed a race since 2007, but he can finally return to the sport and stake his claim. His team however don’t look to be in any good form whatsoever, with their highest finish being 12th courtesy of Stroll and Hulkenberg respectively at Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs. Aston Martin and Williams are the only teams to have not scored a single point yet this year, and if their performance remains the way it is then points will be hard to come by.
TEAM UPDATE: We are pleased to confirm that Sebastian Vettel is now fit to race and will therefore line up alongside @lance_stroll in Melbourne to kick off his 2022 @F1 season at the @ausgrandprix. 💚#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/LrFqaHyQ8W
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 31, 2022
Hulkenberg had said at the end of the Saudi Arabian GP that he would be ready to step in again if needed, though he doesn’t see it happening. The Australian GP itself will be returning after a 2-year absence, with the 2020 and 2021 iterations of the race being cancelled due to COVID, with the 2020 cancellation being rather dramatic!
