Hulkenberg in for Aston Martin as Vettel ruled out of Saudi Arabian GP

Aston Martin has confirmed Sebastian Vettel will miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Nico Hulkenberg to race alongside Lance Stroll for the second consecutive weekend.

Vettel contracted Covid-19 ahead of the F1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Although revealing in a statement on Thursday that the four-time world champion had not yet returned the negative test required to travel to Saudi Arabia, the latest update gave no further details on this situation.

Aston Martin said: "Nico Hulkenberg will practice, qualify and race alongside Lance Stroll.

"Despite lack of mileage in the AMR22, Nico coped well in Bahrain and we are sure he will do likewise in Jeddah.

"We expect Sebastian Vettel to be fit for the Australian GP."

#SaudiArabianGP Update:@HulkHulkenberg will practice, qualify and race alongside @lance_stroll.

Despite lack of mileage in the #AMR22, Nico coped well in Bahrain and we are sure he will do likewise in Jeddah.

We expect Sebastian Vettel to be fit for the #AustralianGP. pic.twitter.com/SgiSYwxZY2

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— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 25, 2022

This will be Hulkenberg's fifth substitute appearance since the start of the pandemic after standing in for Vettel in Bahrain, Stroll at the Eifel 2020 Eifel Grand Prix and Perez twice, the 70th Anniversary and British grands prix, both also in 2020.

Hulkenberg finished 17th in Bahrain after out-qualifying Stroll in the Saturday session.