Lewis Hamilton will miss this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for coronavirus, Formula One has announced. The seven-time world champion and Mercedes driver is in isolation after his positive result was announced on Tuesday morning. A statement said: "The FIA, Formula One and Mercedes Team can today confirm that during mandatory pre-race PRC testing for the Sakhir Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for Covid-19. "In accordance with Covid-19 protocols, he is now isolating. All contacts have been declared. The procedures set out by the FIA and Formula One will ensure no wider impact on this weekend's event." Hamilton <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/f1/formula-one-lewis-hamilton-wins-bahrain-grand-prix-after-romain-grosjean-escapes-horror-crash-1.1120065">who on Sunday won the Bahrain Grand Prix</a>, the first of back-to-back races in the Gulf state, has already secured a record-equalling seventh world championship this season. "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. "Lewis is now isolating in accordance with Covid-19 protocols and public health authority guidelines in Bahrain. "Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery." The team added that Hamilton had been tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time as part of the sport's strict anti-virus protocols. The Mercedes team said it would announce a replacement driver later in the week. Reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne was already scheduled to travel to Bahrain after Formula E testing in Valencia. Hamilton is the third F1 driver to test positive for Covid-19 this season, following Sergio Perez at Silverstone and Lance Stroll in Germany. Organisers said Hamilton needs a negative test before being allowed to return to the F1 paddock and, therefore, remains a doubtful starter for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton sealed his seventh title in Turkey two races ago to equal the all-time record of Michael Schumacher He then cruised to his 11th win this year and record-increasing 95th victory on Sunday in a race overshadowed by Romain Grosjean's horrific crash, which left the Frenchman receiving hospital treatment for burns after his car exploded in flames after ploughing into a barrier. "It was such a shocking image to see," said Hamilton. Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas were having to "live like hermits" earlier this season to avoid Covid-19, revealed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after the team recorded two positive cases at the Eifel Grand Prix in Germany in October.
