Four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel will miss 2022 season opener, the Bahrain Grand Prix, after testing positive for COVID-19, and is set to be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg.

The reserve Aston Martin driver will take Vettel’s spot for the upcoming race and will partake in all sessions starting from Friday’s practice session.

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Hulkenberg’s participation in the Bahrain Grand Prix will be the first grand prix for the German since he stepped in for the ill Lance Stroll at Racing Point in the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

The Bahrain Grand Prix will also mark Hulkenberg’s fourth appearance since 2020: apart from replacing Stroll, Hulkenberg had in 2020 stood in for Sergio Perez for two race weekends at the Silverstone circuit in England.

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The news of Vettel’s COVID-19 test comes a week after McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo tested positive for the coronavirus to miss the Official Pre-Season Test. Thus far, as many as nine F1 drivers have tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, Ricciardo has since recovered and will join McLaren teammate Lando Norris for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

The Bahrain Grand Prix will mark the start of the 2022 F1 season, which will see 22 races take place from March to November this year.

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Earlier this year in February, F1 announced the cancellation of the 17th race in the season – the Russian Grand Prix – in light of the invasion of Ukraine.

Subsequently, F1 also terminated its contract with Russia and is reportedly considering several other circuits to replace the Russian Grand Prix in the coming seasons.