Hulkenberg on standby with Vettel yet to return negative COVID test

Hulkenberg was drafted in to replace Vettel at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after the four-time world champion was ruled out of the event due to testing positive for COVID-19. 

Aston Martin confirmed on Thursday that Vettel was still waiting to return the required negative test in order to travel to Saudi Arabia.

Hulkenberg will be in Jeddah to deputise for his compatriot if necessary but Aston Martin says it will delay a final decision until Friday “to provide Seb every opportunity to race”. 

Should Vettel not return a negative COVID-19 test in time, then Hulkenberg will continue to deputise for Aston Martin at the second race of the season. 

The 34-year-old finished last of the classified finishes in 17th in Bahrain, having not raced for over a year since his last F1 substitute appearance for the Silverstone-based outfit at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix. 

“We don’t know yet [if Vettel will race],” Hulkenberg said after the Bahrain Grand Prix. "I think it’s a matter of waiting a couple of days, seeing how Seb is. If he’s fit to race or not, I’ll be in the area anyway, to be ready and on standby.

Speaking about his first race in over a year, Hulkenberg added: “It was interesting. It was difficult, very difficult to be honest – first time [racing] obviously in a long, long time. 

“There’s so many things happening in the race, it’s so dynamic, the car balance is changing, the fuel load is changing, so it’s difficult to keep up with all these changes and stay on top of things.

“So, it was difficult. I didn’t really have one big mistake – I think I out-braked myself once trying to overtake someone and from then onwards it seemed to get a bit more difficult for me. But yes, it was always going to be tough to expect much more than that.”