Lewis Hamilton to replace George Russell as Mercedes announce F1 world champion

Lewis Hamilton will be back for Mercedes at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, the team have announced. George Russell will return to Williams as a result of Hamilton’s return after recovering from coronavirus.

A statement from the Silver Arrows read on Thursday evening: “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.

“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.

“Lewis has therefore completed the protocols required by the FIA for his entry to the paddock tomorrow [Friday] and will be able to take part in the race weekend.

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

Hamilton missed last Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix due to his bout of coronavirus but had long wrapped up the drivers’ championship anyway.

He was crowned a world champion for the seventh time, drawing level with Michael Schumacher in the process, after winning the Turkish Grand Prix in mid-November.

Russell, who drives for Williams but is effectively on a three-year loan at the team from Mercedes, stepped in for Hamilton and impressed in Bahrain.

The 22-year-old qualified in second and was within three hundredths of pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas, who he overtook at the first corner on the first lap of Sunday’s race.

While Russell led for much of the race, Hamilton’s countryman was denied victory by a tyre mix-up at a pit-stop and then a puncture.

Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, who is without a seat for 2021, instead went on to claim a maiden Formula One race victory.

Russell meanwhile went on to finish ninth, with Bottas one place ahead of him in eighth. The Finn’s result means Hamilton is 127 points clear atop the standings.

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