World champion Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the Sakhir Grand Prix this weekend, his Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team said Tuesday.
The team issued a statement saying Hamilton was tested three times last week and returned a negative result each time, the last on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit where he won the Grand Prix.
鈥淏ut he up woke Monday morning with mild symptoms and was informed at the same time that a contact prior to arrival in Bahrain had subsequently tested positive,鈥� the team said. 鈥淟ewis, therefore, took a further test and returned a positive result. This has since been confirmed by a retest.鈥�
Hamilton is in isolation in accordance with the health protocols in Bahrain.
鈥淎part from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery,鈥� the team statement said.
The 35-year-old Hamilton appeared to be drained at the end of the race in Bahrain.
鈥淚t鈥檚 physical, this track has always been physical. We鈥檝e got lots of high-speed corners so I was definitely feeling it,鈥� he said soon after the GP. 鈥淚 was sliding around a lot out there and I wasn鈥檛 really quite sure how it would play out at the end.鈥�
There is another race in Bahrain on Sunday 鈥� on Sakhir鈥檚 shorter outer circuit 鈥� before the 17-race season concludes in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton has a big lead in the F1 drivers鈥� champion with 332 points, well ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on 201 points and Max Verstappen on 189.
The Mercedes team said it would announce a replacement driver later in the week.