Suffering dizziness and blurring on the podium, Lewis Hamilton fears he has long COVID.

The Briton had a fraught afternoon, for though he escaped the first corner mayhem caused by his teammate and Lance Stroll, he dropped to last shortly after the race was subsequently stopped and restarted following a strategic error by his team.

Fighting his way back through the field he was involved in numerous tough battles with drivers refusing to give way as they battled for track position.

Following his final stop for mediums, with his team sensing not merely a podium but a win, the Briton was urged to push to the limit for the remaining 20 plus laps.

A tough battle with Fernando Alonso cost him precious time and at the finish he was third, though he was subsequently promoted to second following Sebastian Vettel's disqualification.

On the podium Hamilton looked spent, but so did a lot of his colleagues following what had been a particularly tough afternoon. However, it was when he missed the start of the official press conference that it became clear there was an issue, the seven-time world champion revealing that he had been seen by his team doctor.

"Everything got a bit blurry on the podium," said Hamilton. "I've been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year," he added, a reference to when he missed the Sakhir Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID.

"It's still a battle," he continued. "I haven't spoken to anyone particularly about it but I think it is lingering.

"I remember when I had it, training's been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it's different. Who knows what it is today, maybe its hydration, I don't know. But I've definitely not had that experience. I had something similar in Silverstone but it's just way worse."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 09/08/2021 2:43

"It's strange how there's always something provided to detract from the winners celebrations when a certain driver doesn't get the 'biggest' trophy. Images posted of post Hungary race training would appear to show no ill effects whatsoever. Strange for someone who was in such distress!. Alonso's recent comments are very much on the right track considering the vilification that he has been [ and still is ] forced to endure. Smedley's comments made many years ago put the real story behind working with Alonso into the public arena. "

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2. Posted by Defiant, 08/08/2021 16:49

"I think its more likely a situation that Jeremy Clarkson used to elude to on F1 Lap times on Topgear. Get your excuses in early. I'm going to surmise that this is the excuse that'll get trotted out at the end of the year when Max is celebrating."

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3. Posted by kenji, 03/08/2021 8:27

"@ elsiebc and Superbird70....thanks for the comments. Yes, maybe I'm a little sensitive but I find that after a lifetime of watching and enjoying F1, in all it's guises, to witness the subversion of the sport to that of a mere platform for dodgy political one dimensional regressive social politics not only becomes a distraction but intensely tiresome. I'm encouraged to see many people who share some of my observations enough to venture out with a dissenting opinion rather than remain mute. Saying nothing is not an option. When's the next race...."

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4. Posted by elsiebc, 03/08/2021 3:24

"It's the old "if it bothers you it's just indicative that you're the problem" argument of the left. It's designed that way so that real discussion can't take place. "

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5. Posted by elsiebc, 03/08/2021 3:18

""looked spent, but so did a lot of his colleagues..." I must have watched the wrong podium ceremony."

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6. Posted by Superbird70, 03/08/2021 2:02

"@kenji,so sorry but I was just providing an analogy for @mickl. It seems that you are a tad sensitive,IMHO, but I could be wrong."

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7. Posted by CL, 03/08/2021 1:25

"And now I find myself wondering what kind of person I would need to be for hate accusations to become the “standard” for me…and it’s very, very hard to do so. "

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8. Posted by CL, 03/08/2021 1:22

"Take the politics away from my eyes, it exposes my underlying prejudice…I can’t watch sport anymore because the woke sportsmen say I should feel guilty about the beliefs that I can’t face up to enough to accept and change and so I feel uncomfortable. Everyone must sympathise with me and suppress their feelings so I can continue to do so. Thank you for listening."

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9. Posted by kenji, 03/08/2021 0:11

"@Superbird70 and micki....The standard 'hate' accusation is once again out of order. For the very last time...I do not fall under the tag that you imply. Yes, Hamilton is a good driver, no denying that but when he tries to introduce his woke politics into F1 I get somewhat angry. Everything he does is carefully crafted to maximise his exposure when, IMO. there are other drivers who deserve more. That and the cringeworthy sychophantic jingoism that is practised by the Sky team [ Croft's post race report voicing his cheesy support for rainbow politics ] is over the top. I champion freedom of speech but any alternate opinions voiced are met with abusive tags like those that you've just levelled. I will not recant my observation re politics and sport...that's, to me, like oil and water. "

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10. Posted by Superbird70, 02/08/2021 16:49

"@mickl, maybe its like bigotry. Always just below the surface simmering, and then it flaresup."

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11. Posted by mickl, 02/08/2021 14:51

"@kenji as a top tier athlete I think an under the weather Hamilton will be much much fitter than anyone one this site at our peak fitness. Plus he would have had the adrenaline surge of winning his home grand prix to get him through all the leaping,etc.

Why not just admit you have a massive boner of hate for Hamilton and be done with it. It's fairly obvious from what you post that is the case. I know your answer will dispute that but it's pretty clear where you stand.

As it is I'm neither a LH/MB or MV/RBR fan. Just calling out ridiculousness for what it is."

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12. Posted by kenji, 02/08/2021 14:27

"@ noname33...I know how he feels as he has just told us !!! My point was that he claims to have been like this for quite a long time hence my Silverstone reference which was 'off the cuff'.It may be real but then again it may just be 'look at me, I'm not well' that why I didn't win but I gave it everything I could, just for all my followers here packed into the stands. Just love all your energy'. Lol. "

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13. Posted by noname33, 02/08/2021 12:35

"@kenji And? How do you know what he feels?
He actually says that "it's just way worse" in Hungary."

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14. Posted by kenji, 02/08/2021 9:47

"I didn't see it at Silverstone...leaping fences etc etc etc "

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