Lewis Hamilton to race at Abu Dhabi GP in season finale after negative coronavirus tests

Goerge Russell will return to Williams after his Mercedes cameo at Sakhir

Lewis Hamilton will race the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend in the F1 season finale after testing negative for coronavirus.

Hamilton’s positive test a week and a half ago forced him to miss the Sakhir Grand Prix, which Williams driver George Russell drove in his stead for Mercedes, falling just short of victory. Hamilton stayed in Bahrain self-isolating for 10 days where his condition was described as “not great” by Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, but he has now recovered and has travelled to Abu Dhabi ahead of the weekend.

An FIA statement read: "The FIA, Formula 1 and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team can today confirm that Lewis Hamilton has returned a number of negative COVID-19 tests. He has completed his ten day quarantine in Bahrain and was free to leave the country according to the Bahraini health authority regulations. Lewis has now arrived in Abu Dhabi following confirmation from the authorities that he could do so and after quarantining has now received a further negative test result.

“The FIA COVID-19 protocols remain clear and have not changed. A negative pre-test result is necessary to be given access to the Formula 1 Paddock as set out in Appendix S to the International Sporting Code and another negative test result no more than 24 hours following arrival is required. Lewis, having now tested negative in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be granted access to the Paddock.”

Russell will now return to drive for Williams.

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"The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is pleased to confirm that Lewis Hamilton will drive for the team in this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," the world champions said in a statement. "Lewis tested negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday prior to completion of his self-isolation period in Bahrain. This enabled him to travel to Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon, and he tested negative on arrival.

"George Russell will return to Williams Racing for the final event of the 2020 season."

Hamilton has already tied up the 2020 drivers’ championship, his seventh world title.