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Vettel's new helmet, Merc's confirmed Covid case, and no running during second practice

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2020 Eifel Grand Prix (Joe Portlock / Getty Images)
2020 Eifel Grand Prix (Joe Portlock / Getty Images)
Joe Portlock

• Teams saw no running during second practice.

• Sebastian Vettel has a new helmet design for this race.

• The Mercedes team has a confirmed Covid-19 case.

For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za

The second practice session for the Eifel Grand Prix has been axed due to bad weather. Following no running in the first session, the second session saw much of the same.

Race Control updated the Formula 1 fraternity at 15h00 today (9 October) that no running would take place, but that an update would be given after 30 minutes. At 15h30, the conditions remained unchanged, and again at 16h00. At the hour and with 30min remaining in the session, the call was made that no running would take place.

The reason for the call was that the weather was too bad for the medical helicopter to land at the hospital - some 45min away - should a driver be airlifted to the facility.

Vettel's homage

Over the years, Sebastian Vettel has made no secret about the fact that he idolizes Michael Schumacher. For this weekend's race, Vettel has a custom-designed helmet that pays homage to Schumacher. The helmet adopts design elements from the helmet Schumi wore at the 2006 German GP held at the Nürburgring, as well as design traits from Vettel's own helmet.

During the second practice session, Vettel was seen showing Mick, Schumacher's son, the helmet.  The two were in conversation for quite a while, and Vettel said to reporters afterwards that he feels for Mick knowing that his father can't join in these big moments.

Schumacher suffered severe head injuries while skiing with Mick in 2013. Updates on his condition have been scarce ever since.


Do you think Mick Schumacher will race in Formula 1 in 2021? Email us.

Merc's confirmed cases

Yesterday, a Mercedes-AMG team member tested positive for Covid-19. The member was in contact with several staff, which meant that the entire team had to be tested. Following these tests, the team confirmed that one additional member tested positive, while one test came back inconclusive. The member is being retested.

The team also announced that the four members who tested negative will, in accordance with F1 protocol, not partake in the remainder of the weekend. The team brought in six replacements from the factory in the UK.

Little over a month ago, Sergio Perez from Racing Point tested positive for Covid-19 following a trip to his family home in Mexico. The driver missed two races and was replaced by Nico Hulkenberg. At the time of writing, neither Lewis Hamilton nor Valtteri Bottas tested positive, which makes them eligible to compete in the remainder of the race weekend.

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