Hamilton still feeling effects of COVID-19

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton mentioned he was nonetheless feeling the after-effects of COVID-19 after qualifying third for Formula One’s Abu Dhabi season-ender however vowed to present his all in Sunday’s race.

The 35-year-old Mercedes driver has returned after testing positive for the brand new coronavirus and lacking the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain final weekend. He has examined damaging repeatedly this week.

The Briton didn’t wish to go into medical element however mentioned the virus needed to be taken critically and he felt for all those that had suffered from it or have been mourning misplaced family members.

“I am not 100%, I still have some feeling within my lungs,” he mentioned.

“Normally, I would drive even if one of my arms was hanging off. That’s what we do as racing drivers and luckily that’s not the case,” he added.

“It definitely won’t be the easiest of races physically but I will manage and give it absolutely everything I’ve got.”

Hamilton clinched his record-equalling seventh championship in Turkey final month and is probably the most profitable F1 driver of all time.

He has received 11 of 16 races, equalling his finest season efficiency, however a 12th win of 2020 can be the icing on the cake of one other stellar season that has seen Mercedes take each titles for the seventh 12 months in a row.

Asked whether or not adrenalin had carried him by way of, Hamilton mentioned it was extra about total vitality.

“One of the (COVID) symptoms is it really drains you so I’m trying to sleep as much as I can,” he mentioned. “But recharging is not as easy as it perhaps normally has been in the past.”

Mercedes have received the final six races in Abu Dhabi however Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seized pole place on Saturday with Hamilton’s Finnish group mate Valtteri Bottas becoming a member of him on the entrance row.

Verstappen and Bottas are preventing for the runner-up place within the championship, with the Finn 16 factors away from the Dutchman.