Nico Hulkenberg’s shock return to Formula 1 has been confirmed, replacing Sergio Perez at Racing Point for the British Grand Prix weekend.

Hulkenberg has been drafted in by one of his former teams after Perez became the first Formula 1 driver on the grid to test positive for COVID-19. His first test returned inconclusive and his second ensured that he will have to spend the next 10 days in self-isolation.

Racing Point said the plan was still to run two cars at the Silverstone circuit, sparking a sudden wave of rumours as to who would possibly replace the Mexican.

The team usually have Mercedes reserves Esteban Gutierrez and Stoffel Vandoorne to call upon, but Gutierrez’s lengthy spell on the sidelines was a turn-off while Vandoorne had not initially travelled to Silverstone because of his Formula E commitments.