Nico Hulkenberg will compete for Aston Martin at Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix after Sebastian Vettel returned a positive Covid-19 test.
Aston Martin announced on Thursday morning, ahead of the season-opener, that Vettel returned a positive test.
Hulkenberg, the team’s reserve driver, will take his place.
It is the first event that Vettel has missed since stepping up to Formula 1 with Toro Rosso in mid-2007.
![Isack Hadjar [pictured] has deferred to Max Verstappen for Day 2 of the F1 pre-season test. Image: Red Bull Content Pool](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Isack-Hadjar-Red-Bull-test-2026-120x86.webp)
Hulkenberg last competed in Formula 1 at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix.
McLaren confirmed on Wednesday that Daniel Ricciardo, who missed testing due to a positive Covid-19 test, has been cleared to return.
![Isack Hadjar [pictured] has deferred to Max Verstappen for Day 2 of the F1 pre-season test. Image: Red Bull Content Pool](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Isack-Hadjar-Red-Bull-test-2026-350x250.webp)
![Isack Hadjar [pictured] has deferred to Max Verstappen for Day 2 of the F1 pre-season test. Image: Red Bull Content Pool](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Isack-Hadjar-Red-Bull-test-2026-360x180.webp)
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