HAMILTON IS FIT FOR THE FIGHT AGAIN
LEWIS HAMILTON is in “fighting shape” after recovering from the virus which hampered him at the German Grand Prix.
The Briton endured his worst result of this season, finishing ninth on a nightmare afternoon for Mercedes.
But the five-time world champion cleared his schedule this week to fully recover from the illness at home in Monaco before this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, right, said: “I have slept for three days. I am hoping to be 100 per cent by the weekend.
“I feel in fighting shape and I cannot tell you how good that feels after Germany.”
At least Hamilton extended his title lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas to 41 points at Hockenheim after the Finn crashed out.
Hamilton had led for almost half the race before spinning twice in slippery conditions, allowing Max Verstappen to take his second win in three races for Red Bull.
Verstappen’s seventh career win put him 63 points behind Hamilton, but the defending champion is not too concerned.
Hamilton said: “He’s done a great job and Red Bull have clearly done a great job in quite a few of the races now.
“They will be quick here. They are slowly catching us up – though it’s easier to catch up than to stay ahead. But it’s great to see them progressing.
“We want the competition. We’ll be ready for the fight.”
Highly-rated Dutchman Verstappen has been linked with a switch to Mercedes in the near future. Bottas is again under pressure after his woeful performance in Germany compounded Mercedes’ misery at their home race. Hamilton has seemingly stirred the pot by refusing to rule out a Silver Arrows partnership with Verstappen next season.
He said: “I’ve honestly got no problem with it.
“As I’ve said before, I like working with Valtteri. I don’t know how the Verstappen dynamic would work for the team, but I’m not saying it would not.
“I see positives and potential negatives, obviously there’s always positives and negatives with different people that you end up working with.”