F1 champion Hamilton “not 100 percent” fit due to “nasty” COVID-19

Lewis Hamilton says he is “not 100 percent” fit on his return to Formula 1 action at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following his battle with coronavirus.

After missing last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID-19, Hamilton delivered a negative test in time to contest the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, qualifying third behind Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The 35-year-old Briton refused to go into too much detail about his COVID-19 experience, but revealed in Abu Dhabi that he has “lost a good amount of weight” and “overall energy” since testing positive.

“I said already back in Australia just how serious the virus is, and I can really feel for those who have suffered from it and those who have lost ones from it, I can understand how because it’s a nasty virus,” he said.

“I’m not 100 percent. I still have some feeling within my lungs but nonetheless, normally I would drive if one of my arms was hanging off. That’s what we do as racing drivers and luckily that’s not the case.”

Hamilton admitted Sunday’s final round of the season will not be “the easiest of races physically” for him but has vowed it will not prevent him from giving it his all as he looks to end a championship-crowning season on a winning note.

“It definitely won’t be the easiest of races physically [tomorrow] but I will manage and give it absolutely everything I have,” Hamilton explained.

“I think it’s overall energy,” he added. “One of the symptoms is that it really drains you. So I’ve been trying to sleep as much as I can but recharging is not as easy as it has been in the past.

“Lost a good amount of weight just in that weight so I’m not 100 percent the same as I was the last time I raced, but it’s by no means going to get in the way of me coming out and giving it my all tomorrow.”

Hamilton missed out on an 11th pole of 2020 by just 0.086s and confirmed he did suffer damage to his W11 car following a kerb-riding moment at the penultimate corner in Q1. 

“It did have a little bit of damage,” he said. “It’s the first time I’d gone wide there all weekend.

“There’s just a little bit of damage to the floor but I don’t think if that hadn’t have been damaged then I would have got pole. I’m sure it doesn’t help but nonetheless the guys did a good job to get it patched up and they’ll fix it overnight.”