By: Ashley McCubbin

Lewis Hamilton will not get to extend his amount of wins this weekend in the Sakhir Grand Prix, as he will miss the event due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Upon the news of positive test, Hamilton has began isolating per the guidelines outlined by the Bahrain Public Health Department. All of those who have been in contact with him lately have also been notified.

Hamilton clinched his seventh world championship earlier this season a couple weeks ago, in a year that has seen him win 11 of the 15 events to currently hold a 131 point advantage over teammate Valtteri Bottas. Despite the success, he has yet to re-sign for 2021 and beyond, but states it’s a matter of discussion with the team in working out details on paper as he has a future in the sport.

He becomes the third driver to test positive for the virus this year, following Sergio Perez in Silverstone and Lance Stroll in Germany.

Mercedes is expected to name his replacement in the near future, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez on the reserve driver list.