© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
After finishing in P2 and P3 respectively, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton give their first reactions to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It was a difficult weekend for Lewis Hamilton. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 Lewis Hamilton returned to racing at the last minute. P3 might not sound so great in a season of spectacular achievements, but the Briton’s return to racing so quickly after his bout with COVID-19, is quite a feat.
“You can’t win them all,” said Hamilton after the race.
“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.”
The seven-time champion acknowledged he was physically still not feeling too good.
“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.
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Ultimately Hamilton praised race winner Max Verstappen and Red Bull for their performance today.
“The Red Bulls this weekend were just too far out of reach for us. 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.”
Valtteri Bottas drove a solid race and finished in P2, a bit of a positive change from his recent string of disappointing performances.
“Red Bull was too quick today, surprisingly quick,” said the Finn.
“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.
“The team has been amazing this year. So, I am really proud we got P1 and 2 in the championship,” concluded Bottas.
