Lewis Hamilton suggested he is still suffering from the effects of Covid-19 after feeling “exhausted” following Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton started from pole position but dropped to 14th early on, having stayed out on Intermediates at the second start, before recovering to third.
Hamilton was notably struggling for breath post-race and on the podium, with race winner Esteban Ocon checking to see if he was fine.
Hamilton visited Mercedes’ team doctor before joining the press conference later than Ocon and Sebastian Vettel.
“I was just so exhausted afterwards, it was one of the weirdest experiences I’ve had on the podium,” said Hamilton.
“I had real big dizziness and everything got a bit blurry on the podium.”
Hamilton contracted Covid-19 last November and missed Formula 1’s Sakhir Grand Prix, before returning just days later for the finale in Abu Dhabi.
Some who have contracted Covid-19 have reported feeling the effects of the illness for a prolonged period and Hamilton suggested that such a development has happened to him.
“I mean I’ve been fighting… fighting all year really with the health, staying healthy, after what happened at the end of last year, and it’s a battle,” he said.
“I think it is lingering, you know, I remember the effects of when I had it, my training has been different since then and the levels of fatigue that you get is different and it is a real challenge as I said, so just continuing to try and train and prepare the best way I can, yeah.
“Today, who knows what it is today, maybe it is hydration, but have definitely not had that experience. I had something similar at Silverstone but this is way worse.”
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