Sakhir Grand Prix

Formula 1 2020: Mercedes chief Toto Wolff praises 'finance guy' George Russell after second-place qualification in Sakhir GP

The 22-year-old Williams driver, loaned to Mercedes this weekend to substitute for coronavirus victim and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, was only 0.026 seconds slower than Mercedes team-mate and pole-man Valtteri Bottas.

Formula 1 2020: Haas boss Guenther Steiner backs Pietro Fittipaldi shine in Romain Grosjean’s spot in Sakhir GP

After two years waiting for his chance, Fittipaldi will be the first member of his famous family to race in F1 since his cousin Christian

Formula 1 2020: George Russell to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for Sakhir GP; Jack Aitken to step in at Williams

Russell becomes just the third British driver to represent Mercedes in Formula One after Stirling Moss and Lewis Hamilton.

Formula 1 2020: Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ to miss Sakhir GP due to COVID-19

Hamilton faces a tight race to be able to compete in the season-ending finale in Abu Dhabi the following weekend.

Formula 1 2020: Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to miss Bahrain GP after testing positive for COVID-19

The vastly-experienced key pit-wall decision-maker returned a positive test during mandatory pre-race tests and will be isolation for 10-days in line with the sport’s protocols and public health guidelines.

Formula 1 2020: Bahrain to host two Grand Prix races on separate tracks

The Bahrain Grand Prix on 29 November will be held as usual on the 5.4-kilometre (3.3-mile) circuit that usually hosts races. The next race on 6 December will be known as the Sakhir Grand Prix and held on a smaller, 3.5-kilometre (2.2-mile) outer circuit which has never been used before for international racing.