Nico Hulkenberg will replace Sergio Perez at Racing Point for this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg’s unexpected return to F1 comes after Perez tested positive for Coronavirus, which means that he will miss both rounds at Silverstone this and next weekend.
Speaking on his return, Hulkenberg said; “I was on my way to the Nurburgring for another racing project when the call from Otmar [Szafnauer] came. That was less than 24 hours ago, so it feels a bit surreal for me right now, but I like a good challenge and this is certainly one.
“It’s obviously a difficult situation for Racing Point and Checo. He’s a buddy of mine, an old team-mate and I wish him a speedy recovery. I’ll step in and try to do the best I can for the team!”
It however is unclear if Hulkenberg will race for the team next weekend given that Perez must follow the new ten-day isolation period imposed by UK Government, also sidelining the Mexican next weekend too.
Racing Point Team Principal and CEO, Otmar Szafnauer described the task of finding a replacement at short notice as “no easy task”, although he admitted that Hulkenberg is “fantastic supersub who knows the team very well.”
Hulkenberg however used to drive for the team under their former guise as Force India in 2012 then between 2014-16 seasons, despite Szafnauer saying that Hulkenberg is “certainly being thrown in at the deep end, but he’s a fast learner and I’m sure he will get up to speed quickly.”
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