Lewis Hamilton admits he is still “not 100%” following his COVID-19 diagnosis last week as he took part in his first Formula 1 qualifying session since his return.
Hamilton sat out of the Sakhir Grand Prix after a positive coronavirus test, but was given the all clear to race on Thursday afternoon having recovered from the virus.
The seven-time world champion said his running on Friday had felt like the “first day back at school”, as he qualified third for the season finale in Abu Dhabi just 0.086s off pole-sitter Max Verstappen.
Speaking after the session, Hamilton conceded he still wasn’t feeling as fit as he would like to be.
“I can really feel for those who have suffered from it, those that have lost ones from it, and can understand how because it’s a nasty virus,” Hamilton said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“I’m not 100%. I still have some feeling within my lungs.
“But nonetheless, normally I would drive even if one of my arms is hanging off. That’s what we do as racing drivers. Luckily that’s not the case.
“It definitely won’t be the easiest of races, physically, but I will manage and give it absolutely everything I’ve got.”
Hamilton revealed he’d been left “bed-ridden” for most of his 10-day isolation, explaining how the virus had sapped his energy.
“It’s overall energy,” Hamilton said. “One of the symptoms is that it really drains you. I’m trying to sleep as much as I can, but recharging is not as easy as perhaps it normally has been in the past, plus [I lost] a good amount of weight, just in that week.
“As I said, not [feeling] 100% the same as I was the last time I raced.
“But it’s by no means going to get in the way of me going out and giving my all tomorrow.”
Hamilton suffered a moment in Q1 when he ran wide at the penultimate corner and submerged his car on the kerb, causing damage to the floor of his Mercedes.
“It did have a little bit of damage,” Hamilton said.
“It’s the first time I’ve gone wide there all weekend, so just a little bit of damage to the floor.
“I don’t think if that hadn’t been damaged then I would have got pole. I’m sure it doesn’t help, but nonetheless the guys did a great job to try and patch it up. They’ll fix it overnight.”
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