Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff remains cautious about the prospect of Lewis Hamilton returning to action for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grꦦand Prix. 

The seven-time world champion was ruled out of this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix after returning a positive COVID-19 test, with Williams driver George Russell stepping in to replace him alongside Valtteri Bottas. Wolff revealed Hamilton is “not feeling great” after suffer🥂ing from mild coronavirus symptoms. 

Hamilton is required to self-isolate for 10 days in Bahrain and must provide a negative tes🉐t before returning to the F1 paddock, making it unclear whether he would be able to contest the final race of the year in Abuไ Dhabi. 

Although Wolff feels it is “perfectly feasible” for Hamilton to return♛ in time for ജthe finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, he conceded he is wary of a potential further positive test.

“We have seen tests that were negative within 10 days so I think that𝕴 is perfectly feasible, in my opinion,” Wolff said. 

“But it would be a very positive development. Nevertheless, you need to look at th⛦e situation because there are many athletes and sports people out there that have tested positive f🌼or a long time after any symptoms and after they’ve been infectious. 

“This isꦫ something the FIA needs to look into, anyway.”

Wolff stressed that Hamilton does not need permission for his activit🌺ies after reports emerged that he had contracted COVID-19 while in Dubai before travelling to the Bahrain Grand Prix. 

"Lewis doesn't need to have any permission," 💯Wolff said.

"He rides anyth𝕴ing he wants, he jumps out of an🐟y airplane he wants, because he knows best what is good for him. He is a grown-up man, and this was never an issue.

“I think contracting Covid-19 is something that we are not all very sure where we get it. If you ask Mario [Isola, Pirelli’s ▨head of motorsport] where he got it&nbs✨p;he’s probably not going to know where.

“It’s just unfortunate. He was protecting himself a lot and then you go to Dubai, you wear your mask all the time a🦹nd you come back with Corona. These things happen.”

"His priority now is to get healthy," Wolff aꦚdded. 

"I'm not sure he's going to follow in detail what 🅷is happening on-track if you're in bed and not feeling great. Racing be𝓡comes a second priority.”

And Wolff admitted 🎃the timeline for negotiations with Hamilton had once again been pushed back as a result, with talks over a renewed deal now on hold until the Briton returns to full health. 

"The timeline is 🧔being pushed back until he recovers," Wolff said. "We know that꧑ we need to get it done, pretty well aware both of us.

"The priority now is him getting back on his feet and being back negative, and th🧜en we will meet or Zoom in orꦫder to put pen to paper.”