Nico Hulkenberg is to stand in for Racing Point’s Sergio Perez at the British Grand Prix, after the Mexican contracted coronavirus. He will miss at least the two races at Silverstone this weekend and next. Hulkenberg, who was out of F1 after being dropped by Renault at the end of last season, returns to the team he raced for in 2012 and between 2014 and 2016. Racing Point chose Hulkenberg over Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, who is the Mercedes reserve driver for this weekend and they had a contractual right to call on had they wanted to because of their links with the world champions. Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “In Nico we’ve got a fantastic super-sub who the team knows very well. Hulkenberg said: “I was on my way to the Nurburgring for another racing project when the call from Otmar came. Hulkenberg is expected to continue for the team as long as Perez is out, but they were not able to confirm that on Friday.

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