The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team has confirmed that Nico Hulkenberg will once again drive in place of his countryman at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah circuit.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.

Speaking ahead of the race this weekend, Hulkenberg said:

After familiarising myself with the AMR22 in Bahrain last weekend, racing in Saudi Arabia will give me the opportunity to develop and further improve my understanding of the car. In addition, the work I did back in the simulator earlier this week has given me some extra insight and helped me prepare for this fast and flowing track. Obviously, I wish Sebastian a speedy recovery, but I am really looking forward to the challenge and will be doing my best for the whole team this weekend.

Lance Stroll commented saying:

Racing in Saudi Arabia last year was a step into the unknown, but now it’s the exciting challenge of taking what we learned from the first race and applying it to this season’s race. The Jeddah circuit is the longest and fastest street track on the calendar, so that task is even greater. Last year, the multiple race disruptions were a constant factor, so we’ll need to be on our toes to capitalise on any opportunities.

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