Lewis Hamilton set for dramatic return to F1 on final day of 2020 season following coronavirus battle… as seven-time world champion tests negative and arrives in Abu Dhabi to take back his seat from Williams’ George Russell
- Lewis Hamilton was forced to sit out the Sakhir Grand Prix last weekend
- It was the first race he has missed since his Formula One debut in 2007
- George Russell stepped in and replaced him and nearly won the race in Bahrain
- The FIA have confirmed that Hamilton has now tested negative for Covid-19
- He is desperate to race and has arrived in Abu Dhabi ahead of Sunday’s event
Mercedes have flown Lewis Hamilton into Abu Dhabi for a dramatic return from Covid.
Amid secrecy, the world champion has been given clearance by the local authorities to arrive here in time for the season-closing round on Sunday.
Hamilton, who tested positive for coronavirus last Tuesday, is desperate to be back in the cockpit after missing the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain – the first race he has missed since his Formula One debut in 2007.
Lewis Hamilton will return in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after testing negative for Covid
Hamilton is desperate to be back in the cockpit after missing the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain
Mercedes, knowing the depth of his desire, promised to give him until the last moment to prove his fitness.
Hamilton has served his 10-day quarantine in Bahrain. The FIA have confirmed that he tested negative for Covid, a prerequisite for entering Abu Dhabi.
All the F1 community is stationed on Yas Island close to the track after being subjected to swabbing on arrival at the airport.
Although most of the 1,200-strong group arrived here in a sequence of charter flights on Monday, Hamilton has been allowed special dispensation to touch down on Thursday. He has already arrived.
That is bad news for George Russell, his fellow Englishman, who stepped into the breach a week ago and nearly won the race only to be hit by a pit-stop blunder and then a puncture.
George Russell had been preparing to race in Hamilton’s Mercedes again this weekend
Russell impressed after deputising for Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain on Sunday