<p class="bodytext">An exhausted Lewis Hamilton admitted he was physically exhausted and felt relieved to complete the race after he finished third for champions Mercedes in Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The newly-crowned seven-time world champion, who was back in action after recovering from a bout of Covid-19 that saw him miss last weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix, said he had felt "massively" affected by his illness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You can't win them all," he said, having come home third behind triumphant Dutchman Max Versappen of Red Bull and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"And, considering the last couple of weeks that I have had, I am really genuinely happy with the weekend.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I was not 100 per cent. It was not as good as we would have liked, but congratulations to Max. It was such a really hard race for me physically.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"All year, physically, I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn't. I am just glad it's over.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"A big thank you to the team for their continued support - it's still a fantastic result to get two podium finishes."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hamilton added that contracting coronavirus had been a factor in his performance even as he claimed a record-increasing 165th podium finish and his seventh in successive years at the Yas Marina Circuit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Physically? Massively," he said, when asked directly about how much Covid-19 had hit him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't think I have ever been so blown, but look on the bright side - I made it through and I didn't even think I would be here, last week.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now, I am looking forward to recovering, getting back into training and back to where I know I should be. I hope and pray that in 2022, the cars are better to follow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't know if it was a boring race to watch, but once you get within two seconds you are sliding around and in turbulence the whole time. And, of course, we need good tyres!"</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Covid is not a joke and people all over the world are out there losing their lives - it should not be treated that way. It's really tough.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I find it very strange to see world leaders laughing it off because it's not funny."</p>
<p class="bodytext">An exhausted Lewis Hamilton admitted he was physically exhausted and felt relieved to complete the race after he finished third for champions Mercedes in Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The newly-crowned seven-time world champion, who was back in action after recovering from a bout of Covid-19 that saw him miss last weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix, said he had felt "massively" affected by his illness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"You can't win them all," he said, having come home third behind triumphant Dutchman Max Versappen of Red Bull and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"And, considering the last couple of weeks that I have had, I am really genuinely happy with the weekend.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I was not 100 per cent. It was not as good as we would have liked, but congratulations to Max. It was such a really hard race for me physically.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"All year, physically, I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn't. I am just glad it's over.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"A big thank you to the team for their continued support - it's still a fantastic result to get two podium finishes."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hamilton added that contracting coronavirus had been a factor in his performance even as he claimed a record-increasing 165th podium finish and his seventh in successive years at the Yas Marina Circuit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Physically? Massively," he said, when asked directly about how much Covid-19 had hit him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't think I have ever been so blown, but look on the bright side - I made it through and I didn't even think I would be here, last week.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Now, I am looking forward to recovering, getting back into training and back to where I know I should be. I hope and pray that in 2022, the cars are better to follow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I don't know if it was a boring race to watch, but once you get within two seconds you are sliding around and in turbulence the whole time. And, of course, we need good tyres!"</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Covid is not a joke and people all over the world are out there losing their lives - it should not be treated that way. It's really tough.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I find it very strange to see world leaders laughing it off because it's not funny."</p>