Nico Hulkenberg, Racing Point, Nurburgring, 2020

Official: Hulkenberg to replace Stroll for Eifel Grand Prix

2020 Eifel Grand Prix

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Nico Hulkenberg has been recalled to make his third appearance in an F1 round this year for Racing Point.

He will take over from Lance Stroll, who missed this morning’s practice session due to illness. Hulkenberg previously stood in for Stroll’s team mate Sergio Perez when he tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the two rounds at Silverstone earlier this year.

“Lance didn’t feel 100% this morning and the team took the decision not to run him for the rest of the event,” said Racing Point in a statement.

As final practice has already been completed Hulkenberg will not have an opportunity to drive the car before the qualifying session begins at 3pm local time, less than an hour from now. The veteran of 178 grands prix arrived at the Nurburgring during this morning’s hour of running.

Hulkenberg is currently 15th in the championship standings with six points, which he scored in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. He failed to start in his other appearance this year, at the British Grand Prix, due to a power unit problem.

The FIA stewards have formally approved Racing Point’s request to change drivers for this weekend, which will involved Hulkenberg taking over the power unit components allocated to Stroll. Hulkenberg and Perez are therefore reunited as team mates for the first time since 2016 when they drove for the same team, when it was called Force India.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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12 comments on “Official: Hulkenberg to replace Stroll for Eifel Grand Prix”

  1. The Hulk is back!

  2. Cinderella man. Let’s do a Gasly.

  3. In Silverstone, he used Checo’s car, steering wheel, had his engineer, mechanics, and everything, so Lance’s equivalents for him on this occasion.

    1. Interesting observation by Hulk. This car steers completely different then when i drove checo’s car.
      Is it development or just a completely different car?

  4. Does picking stroll in the predictions game work as picking Hulk?

    1. Hülkenberg is listed among the drivers in the predictions.

  5. Presumably Stroll doesn’t have Covid-19 otherwise most of the Racing Point team would need to quarantine?

  6. I don’t see a place for Hulkenberg in F1 next season, sadly. I hope he does well this weekend.

  7. Quite curious how RP is the only team requiring a reserve driver this year;

    Was Stoffel considered?

    1. Yes, but Otmar decided to use the Hulk. He was nearby ( had an appointment at HAAS) and has some experience with the RP.

  8. AJ (@asleepatthewheel)
    10th October 2020, 15:17

    Daddy’s money can’t buy him immunity.

Comments are closed.