Hamilton: I’ll drive through the pain
Bed-ridden for a week and lungs still affected
A FRAGILE Lewis Hamilton has spoken for the first time about his recent Covid ordeal, revealing the virus confined him to bed for days and that he is still suffering lung problems.
The seven-time world champion broke his silence after qualifying third for the season- closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — a performance that was sub-par by his standards and indicated he is struggling to throw off the effects of the illness.
Looking physically weaker and coughing occasionally, Hamilton said: ‘I was bed-ridden for most of the week. I still have some feeling within my lungs. I would drive even if one of my arms were hanging off. That’s what we do as racing drivers. Luckily that’s not the case.
‘I lost a good amount of weight in that week so I’m not 100 per cent the same as the last time I raced, but it is by no means going to get in the way of me going out and giving it my all tomorrow.
‘Overall I have a lack of energy. One of the symptoms is that it really drains you. I said al ready in Australia (in March) how serious the virus is. I can really feel for those who have suffered from it, those who have lost loved ones from it. It’s nasty.’
Hamilton, who was too ill to take part in the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain last weekend when he was replaced by Williams’ George Russell, missed out yesterday by 0.086sec to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who claimed his third career pole and first of the season, with Va lt teri Bot ta sin the other Mercedes second quickest, 0.025sec behind the Dutch pace-setter.
A master of conjuring victories from improbable positions, Hamilton may yet finish the weekend victorious but it will take a major effort given his health, which may have contributed to him exceeding the track limits and damaging his car early in qualifying.
His boss Toto Wolff said: ‘After 10 days with Covid you are not going to be on your A- game, but he is absolutely good enough to race.’
Nothing is riding on the outcome today other than pride for the Briton, given that he wrapped up his fourth consecutive title in Turkey a month ago.
It was after this latest success that Hamilton travelled to Dubai for a celebratory holiday with friends and family, including his father Anthony and mate Daniel ‘Spinz’ Forrest. It is thought likely he caught Covid on the trip, along with an unnamed associate. Hamilton’s participation in this dead rubber
LEWIS HAMILTON is to be honoured at Silverstone where the International Pits Straight is to be renamed after the seven-time Formula One world champion. Hamilton has won his home grand prix seven times. weekend was touch and go up until Thursday, when he flew into Abu Dhabi by private jet.
It is understood that as late as Tuesday he was still testing positive for Covid, only to receive the allclear 48 hours later. By then he had just served the mandatory 10-day quarantine period in Bahrain, where he was staying in a royal property.
He was next tested on landing in Abu Dhabi and, having received his expedited result, a negative, took up the special dispensation he had been granted by local authorities to enter the Yas Island bubble next to the track.
It is here that the rest of the Formula One contingent were already locked down.
The protocols in Abu Dhabi are the most stringent of the year. Designated cars and buses met the charter flights landing from Bahrain on Monday to take the travelling pack to their hotels. There, our bags were taken off us by staff wearing full PPE suits and sprayed with disinfectant. Everyone had to self-isolate in their rooms until the results of swabs taken in the airport were returned six hours later.
Once a negative result was confirmed, a green wristband was issued to each person, permitting access to the whole of Yas Island.
Staff servicing the six hotels had spent the previous three weeks in a seventh hotel while they were tested and isolated.
Along with other senior personnel, Hamilton is staying in the most opulent accommodation — the W Hotel, whose illuminated curved roof adjoins across the track. To conserve energy, or to keep himself to himself, he alone is driven to the paddock by a circuitous route. All his rivals take the three-minute walk.
‘I’ve been sleeping as much as I can, but recharging is not as easy as normal,’ he added. ‘It won’t be the easiest of races physically, but I will manage and give it everything I’ve got.’