It’s back to school for Hamilton
LEWIS HAMILTON says his return to Formula One action yesterday felt like “a first day back in school”.
The Briton missed last month’s Sakhir Grand Prix after he contracted coronavirus.
But after 10 days of quarantine in Bahrain and returning several negative results, Hamilton was back behind the wheel of his Mercedes ahead of the season- ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton said: “I was very, very happy and grateful just to be back here and obviously to try and finish off this season strong. Super excited, it felt like the first day back at school kind of thing.
“It took a minute to get back used to it for the first session and then, the second one, I think I was still getting my bearings, but not too bad. It was odd for me. In my 27 years of racing I’ve never missed a race, so one day I’ll write a book about it. But as I said, I’m just grateful to be back.”
He was beaten to top spot by Mercedes team- mate Valtteri Bottas in second practice yesterday.
There was late drama when Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo caught fire but the ex- world champion pulled off the track and emerged unscathed.