Nico Hülkenberg replaces unwell Lance Stroll at Racing Point for Eifel GP

Nico Hülkenberg will compete for Racing Point this weekend after Lance Stroll was taken ill ahead of this morning’s practice session at the Nürburgring.

The German, who stood in for Sergio Perez earlier in the season, was seen entering the Racing Point paddock offices this lunchtime.

He was already due to be at the track to commentate on this afternoon’s qualifying session before getting the call.

Stewards have approved Racing Point’s request to switch drivers and Hülkenberg will continue with the team for the rest of the weekend.

Hola 🙋🏽‍♀️ @HulkHulkenberg !

Hulk is here !! #EifelGP #hulkenback again ! pic.twitter.com/fajw6eCYog

— Noemí de Miguel (@Noemidemiguel) October 10, 2020

“Lance did not feel 100 per cent this morning and the team took the decision not to run him for the rest of the event,” said Racing Point.

“Nico, who previously deputised for Sergio Perez at the Silverstone events, is familiar with the car and team already, and fortunately was in nearby Cologne.”

Although qualifying will be Hülkenberg’s first experience of this year’s car at the Nürburgring, his disadvantage has been minimised after both of yesterday’s practice sessions were washed out, leaving the rest of the grid with just an hour of practice today.

Hülkenberg also has Grand Prix experience of this year’s Racing Point after filling in for Perez at both Silverstone races while the Mexican recovered from coronavirus.

A power unit problem meant that Hulkenberg didn’t even make the start of the British Grand Prix but the subsequent 70th Anniversary race — also at Silverstone — saw him qualify third. He was in line to finish fifth but a tyre vibration forced him to make an extra stop, dropping him to seventh.

The result puts him 15th in the drivers’ championship. A sixth-place finish at the Nürburgring would give him 14 points, putting level with 14th-placed Daniil Kvyat’s current total.