Sebastian Vettel has been cleared of COVID-19 and he will start his 2022 F1 campaign next weekend in the Australian GP.
After missing both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races, Aston Martin has informed that Vettel will kick-off his 2022 F1 campaign next weekend in the Australian GP at Albert Park circuit. The German is now fully fit after a bout of COVID-19 post the pre-season test.
In the gap between testing and the first race, Vettel went to home in Switzerland and was eventually diagnosed by COVID-19. It is unclear if he got the virus during his travel and or from Daniel Ricciardo, who tested positive on the eve of the final test.
Reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg subbed in for Vettel in the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races, but neither him nor Lance Stroll could score any points amid a difficult start to the 2022 F1 season for the Silverstone-based Aston Martin outfit.
“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 Australian GP,” stated a small statement from Aston Martin.
When Stroll was asked about pairing with Hulkenberg, the Canadian not only talked about the German but added how rough Vettel was feeling around Saudi Arabian GP. “It’s been fun. He’s a nice guy, obviously. [I am] feeling for Seb, I think he’s been feeling pretty rough, so I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery,” he said.
Considering the two races missed by Vettel, he will be a bit behind in the learning scale with the 2022 cars, but Hulkenberg reckons it won’t be a difficult task for him. “Obviously he’s lacking those two races so he will start a little bit on the backfoot,” he said.
“But I think you know, he’s very skilled, very talented. I think he’s capable of catching up but for sure he has a bit more work to do and he needs to dig a little bit deeper to try and make up for it,” summed up Hulkenberg.
