Sergio Perez hopeful of F1 return at Spanish Grand Prix

Racing Point

Perez hopeful of F1 return at Spanish Grand Prix

Nico Hülkenberg has stood in for Perez at the past two grands prix

Sam Hall

Thursday 13 August 2020 08:00

Racing Point driver Sergio Perez is hopeful he will be permitted to return to the Formula 1 paddock for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Ahead of the British Grand Prix, Perez tested positive for Covid-19 and, as per the strict guidelines enforced by F1 and the FIA, Perez was denied access to the paddock for the weekend.

UK health guidelines at the time of the positive test required Perez to self-isolate for seven days, but after this period elapsed, the Mexican again tested positive, allowing substitute driver Nico Hülkenberg a second outing for the team.

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Perez is due to be tested again on Thursday morning, 14 days after his original test returned a positive result, and this result must be negative before he is allowed to return into the F1 'bubble'.

The Mexican has said: “Firstly, I’m very lucky that I’ve only had mild symptoms, so I’ve been able to keep training and make sure that I’m ready to jump back behind the wheel of the car.

"I’m very glad I had my tablet to keep me entertained too, though! I’ve definitely missed racing and it was hard to watch from the outside. I can’t wait to get on track, hopefully this weekend.”

Spain currently has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe behind only Russia, and both Andreas Seidl and Guenther Steiner have confirmed McLaren and Haas will operate a system similar to that enforced in Hungary to keep personnel safe.

This system dictated that personnel could only leave their accommodation to travel to the circuit.