Hulkenberg replaces ill Stroll for rest of F1 Eifel GP weekend

Nico Hulkenberg will stand in for Lance Stroll at the Racing Point Formula 1 team to contest the rest of the Eifel Grand Prix weekend. 

Stroll was forced to skip final practice at the Nurburgring after feeling unwell, leaving question marks over whether the Canadian would be able to take part in qualifying.

Racing Point confirmed after FP3 that Stroll would be replaced by Hulkenberg for qualifying and the remainder of the weekend. Hulkenberg was already in Germany and had travelled to the circuit to be on standby for the Silverstone outfit.

Hulkenberg took a rapid coronavirus test on Saturday morning and had to wait for his negative result to be confirmed before he was cleared to enter the F1 paddock and join Racing Point’s bubble. He passed a COVID-19 test and was seen entering the paddock in team gear and a race suit.

"Nico Hulkenberg will drive for the BWT Racing Point F1 Team in this weekend’s Eifel Grand Prix after Lance Stroll was taken unwell," a Racing Point statement read.

"Lance did not feel 100% this morning and the team took the decision not to run him for the rest of the event.

"Nico, who previously deputised for Sergio Perez at the Silverstone events, is familiar with the car and team already, and fortunately was in nearby Cologne."

Hulkenberg made a surprise to the F1 grid earlier this year when he deputised for Sergio Perez at the British Grand Prix and 70th Anniversary race at Silverstone when the Mexican contracted COVID-19, forcing him to miss both rounds.

The 33-year-old failed to start the British GP after Racing Point discovered a last-minute engine problem, before he finished seventh in the second race at Silverstone after qualifying a brilliant third.

The Eifel Grand Prix will mark Hulkenberg’s third appearance of the 2020 season, having originally not been set to drive this year after losing his Renault seat to Esteban Ocon.

Mercedes reserve Stoffel Vandoorne - who Racing Point has permission to use as a stand in - was already on-site at the Nurburgring but the Belgian has not driven an F1 car since he left McLaren at the end of 2018. 

Stroll's absence from the weekend marks a blow to his championship aspirations, with the Canadian currently occupying eighth place in the standings, one point clear of Perez. 

Qualifying for the Eifel Grand Prix is due to get underway at 15:00pm local time at the Nurburgring.

It is the first time that F1 has visited the iconic German venue in seven years.