Virus still taking a heavy toll on champion Lewis
LEWIS HAMILTON revealed the toll coronavirus had taken on him after rounding off his seventh Formula One title-winning season with third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Having missed last weekend’s race in Sakhir, the first time he had not made the grid during his 14-year career, Hamilton admitted to feeling below-par throughout his return.
The 35-year-old was bed-ridden for a week and lost a significant amount of weight during his isolation in Bahrain, and felt he was still struggling with his lung capacity as he finished almost 18 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen.
‘That was a really hard race for me,’ said Hamilton. ‘Physically all year, I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn’t.
‘I don’t think I have ever been so blown. I am just glad it is over. My body is not feeling great but I have to look on the bright side.
‘I made it through, and I didn’t think at any period last week I would be here. I am truly grateful for my health, to be alive, and looking forward to recovering over the period we are off, and then getting my body back to where I know it should be.’
Hamilton now has 96 days before starting his bid for a record-breaking eighth title in Melbourne, and hopes to still be behind the wheel
for Mercedes. Although his £40million-a-season deal expires at the end of the month, he expects to have a new contract in the bag before then. ‘I plan to be here next year, and I ought to be here next year,’ added Hamilton, who remained in Abu Dhabi for celebratory drinks with the team last night.
‘As a team, we have more to do together – more to achieve both in and outside of the sport.
‘I hope we can begin discussions this week and then hopefully get it tied up before Christmas.’
Hamilton’s boss Toto Wolff said: ‘It is going to happen. There is no reason it is not going to happen.
‘We always said we would do it after he won the title and then the virus delayed us. Now we need to sit down and get it done.’
The first three positions from the pole ended up taking the chequered flag in that order, with Red Bull’s Verstappen ahead of Valtteri Bottas and the Finn’s team-mate Hamilton.
Wolff admitted it had not made for much of a spectacle under the lights of the Yas Marina Circuit. ‘The amount of messages I got with the sleepy emoji is the most I have ever received during a race,’ he said.
‘The infrastructure here is like no other – it is spectacular – but it is just so difficult to overtake even if the car in front is slower.’
Alexander Albon improved his chances of a Red Bull stay for 2021 by finishing fourth ahead of Lando Norris. Sebastian Vettel ended his six-season Ferrari career in 14th, one spot ahead of George Russell.
As a team we have more to achieve together both in and outside the sport