THE SAKHIR GRAND PRIX is taking place this weekend – but there’s no Lewis Hamilton.
The reigning champion has tested positive for coronavirus and been replaced by fellow Brit George Russell for Mercedes.
- Race time: Sunday, 5.15pm
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
MISSING LEW
Despite George Russell’s good performance yesterday, Max Verstappen thinks Lewis Hamilton will be a big miss for today’s race.
The seven-time champion is sitting out this weekends race as he battles coronavirus.
Verstappen said: “Of course you do, because he will make the difference in the most crucial moments.
“That’s why he’s a seven time world champion.”
FATHER LIKE SON
Mick Schumacher is well on his way to following in his father’s footsteps after being crowned F2 world champion.
The son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael, the 21-year-old clinched the title in Bahrain, despite his 18th place finish.
An error on the opening lap meant he dropped down the positions but British rival Callum Ilott failed to take advantage with a 10th place finish.
It meant Mick won the title by 14-points with Ilott needing to finish in the top two places.
It was his last race in F2 before he moves to Formula One with team Haas next season.
F2 UNDERWAY
F2 is underway and Mick Schumacher has a number of scenarios to be crowned champion.
MIRACLE
Romain Grosjean cheated death in Bahrain when he walked away from his F1 car split in half and engulfed in flames.
It was an absolute miracle to see him make it out in one piece and we’re glad he did.
It has now been confirmed that he will miss his final ever race in F1 next week in Abu Dhabi.
Romain Grosjean walked away from a horror crash last weekCredit: Getty Images
THE END
Romain Grosjean will miss out on his “final race” in Abu Dhabi next week as he flies home to Switzerland to continue his recovery.
In Haas’ statement, Grosjean said: “It is with great sadness that I will not be able to do my final race in Abu Dhabi and be with the team there.
“We’ve tried as much as we could with the doctor to recover and to repair my hand, but the risk of racing is too big for my recovery and my health.
“So, the decision was made that I’m not going to race. It’s one of the hardest decisions of my life, but it’s obviously one of the wisest.
“I will miss the team, but I will be supporting them as ever.”
GROSJEAN FLIES HOME
Romain Grosjean is flying back to Switzerland, he released a statement on twitter.
TOP TEN
Here’s how we rank the greatest F1 drivers of all-time.
GOOD MORNING RACING FANS
It’s race day!
TIME FOR TIMES
Here’s how the entire pack shook down today.
DAN THE MAN
Daniil Kvyat is sixth and tells Sky Sport ‘I liked it’.
The Alpha Tauri ace calls his ‘consistent’ run the ‘best qualifying of the year for me’.
Like Sergio Perez, he predicts a ‘big train’ on the track tomorrow.
PEREZ FIFTH
Sergio Perez telling Sky Sports about the ‘unknowns’ drivers face tomorrow.
With it ‘difficult to overtake’ he is prioritising ‘making it to the end’ after his late heartbreak last time out.
He starts fifth.
THUMBS UP
George Russell looks happy with his qualifying.
He has been in superb form on Saturdays for Williams so tomorrow is going to be very interesting for the young Brit.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
CHARLES CHUFFED
Ferrari have a car on fourth tomorrow and Charles Leclerc is delighted with his performance talking to Sky Sports.
Having just one set of Softs for Q3, he wanted to go early in case traffic was a ‘mess’ and to ‘get out on track and do the job’.
He says he ‘couldn’t have done anything better’ – and he’s probably right.
ROMAIN RETURNS
An aside from qualy – here is Romain Grosjean getting reacquainted with his Haas.
The Frenchman is still keen to race in next week’s Abu Dhabi GP as he recovers from hand and foot injuries.
VERSTAPPEN OPTIMISTIC
Max Verstappen wants Red Bull to have ‘a bit of fun’ tomorrow with ‘nothing to lose’.
He promises an ‘interesting’ race with Red Bull ‘a bit closer than normal’.
MERCS DOMINATE
George Russell saying he hasn’t started a race without any drivers in front of him off the grid ‘for a long long time’.
RUSSELL STILL LEARNING
The man in P2 describes the ‘incredibly intense’ session and the ‘alien’ feel he has had in the Merc.
But he is ‘very pleased’ to get so close to Valtteri Bottas.
‘NOT MY BEST’
Valtteri Bottas a tad disappointed with is run – which he calls ‘not his best’ qualifying.
REST OF THE PACK
An intriguing grid will line up with Sergio Perez fifth and another man soon to be out of F1, Daniil Kvyat, sixth.
Daniel Ricciardo is seventh before Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.
Q3 COMPLETE
Valtteri Bottas muted in his celebrations as he exits the car, knowing he will have two very talented young drivers on his backside tomorrow evening.
George Russell with a great performance in second and Max Verstappen wondering what might have been in third.
Charles Leclerc arguably the driver of the day as he clocks fourth.
BOTTAS P1
That was mighty, mighty close!
Just 0.056 seconds from first to third, where Max Verstappen will start.
‘Nice to be on pole’ says a droll Valtteri Bottas over radio.
Q3: RUSSELL SECOND, BOTTAS POLE!
George Russell is 0.026 seconds off Valtteri Bottas who takes pole!
Q3: TIME’S UP
Valtteri Bottas cannot improve!
Q3: NOT GREAT FROM THE MERCS
Neither man can improve their Sector 1 times…
Q3: 1 MIN TO GO
The Mercs are again first out so we will get their times first in just over a minute.
Valtteri Bottas could give George Russell a tow, with Max Verstappen on the Brit’s tail.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
