Lewis Hamilton mentioned he feels “grateful to be alive” after coming back from a optimistic COVID-19 take a look at to race on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he finished third.

Hamilton, who sat out the Sakhir Grand Prix final week and was solely cleared to race this weekend on Thursday, admitted to not being 100% after qualifying in the identical place on Saturday night and 24 hours later mentioned nothing had modified.

The Mercedes driver, who in any other case dominated the season and wrapped up the championship with three races to spare, seemed to be off his normal greatest throughout the race.

“Bodily, massively. I do not assume I’ve ever been so blown,” Hamilton mentioned afterwards when requested if he was nonetheless feeling the impacts of coronavirus. “My physique’s not feeling fairly good.

“I look on the intense aspect, I made it by. I did not assume any time final week that I would be right here and so I am simply actually, actually grateful for my well being and to be alive.

“I am trying ahead to recovering over the following time period we’ve and getting again into coaching and getting my physique again to the place I do know it needs to be.”

Hamilton completed behind Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and, regardless of seeing Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen declare the win, mentioned it was final result.

“Contemplating the previous couple of weeks I’ve had I am actually genuinely proud of the weekend. It is clearly not 100% pretty much as good as I truly would really like.”

“All 12 months bodily I have been high-quality however in the present day I undoubtedly wasn’t. I am simply glad it is over. Large due to the crew for his or her continued help. It is nonetheless a unbelievable end result to get two podium finishes for us.”