"Blown" Hamilton "grateful to be alive" after podium on return from Covid-19

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton revealed he was "grateful to be alive" after a podium finish on his return from Covid-19 in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton finished third in a stagnant season finale, two-and-a-half seconds behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas but over 18 seconds down on race-winner Max Verstappen.

The seven-time champion conceded he was content with his result given the hardship he has faced across the previous two weeks.

"You can't win them all," he said. "I think considering the last couple of weeks I had, I am really generally happy with the weekend.

"It is obviously not as good as we would like. Congratulations to Max. That was a really hard race for me physically. All year, physically I have been fine but today I definitely wasn't.

"Big thank you to the team for their continued support. It is still a fantastic result to get two podium finishes."

On his physical state after the race, he added: "I don't think I have ever been so blown. My body is not feeling great but look on the bright side, I made it through.

"I didn't at any time last week think I would be here. I am truly grateful for my health and to be alive and looking forward to recovering over the next period of time we have and getting back into training and get my body back to where I know it should be.

After asking if the race was "boring to watch", Hamilton stated his excitement for the upcoming regulation changes in 2022.

"The Red Bulls this weekend were just too far out of reach for us," he explained.

"We just couldn't hold onto the pace they had and a fantastic job to see Alex right up there with us. We were having a two-team battle which I think is what the sport needs.

"I really hope in 2022 the cars are better to follow because as soon as you get within three seconds you are just sliding around and in turbulence all the time. I hope what Ross [Brawn] has proposed makes the difference, we just need good tyres."

Bottas' second-place finish ensured he finished runner-up in the championship ahead of Verstappen but the Finn expressed his shock at the speed possessed by the Red Bulls.

"Red Bull was too quick today," he acknowledged. "Surprisingly quick. We thought the race pace would be pretty identical but they could really control the race and build the gap they needed.

"I was trying everything I could but couldn't keep up with them."

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