Lewis Hamilton explains why he felt 'destroyed' after Max Verstappen season finale win

Lewis Hamilton admits he felt “destroyed” following his first race back after recovering from coronavirus. Hamilton finished third in the season finale in Abu Dhabi, behind Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in second and race-winner Max Verstappen. The seven-time world champion missed last week’s race in Bahrain and was only announced as returning to the grid for this weekend late on Thursday.

Hamilton says he is grateful to have recovered from Covid-19 but says the race completely took it out of him.

“I’m destroyed. I do not feel good,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.

“But I’m happy, I’m grateful. I’m alive, and I live to fight another day.

“I still managed to finish off the season with a podium so I’m thankful to the team that I was able to contribute.

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“Considering the past couple of weeks I’ve had I really am generally happy with the weekend. That was a really hard race for me physically. All year physically I’ve been fine but today I definitely wasn’t.

“I don’t think I have ever been so blown. I am just glad it is over. My body is not feeling great but I have to look on the bright side.

“I made it through, and I didn’t think at any period last week that I would be here.

“I am really just truly grateful for my health, to be alive, and looking forward to recovering over the period we are off, and then getting my body back to where I know it should be.”