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Lewis Hamilton suspects he is suffering from long Covid after dizziness and fatigue in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton finished third in Hungary, though was later promoted to second place (Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton finished third in Hungary, though was later promoted to second place (Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton suspects the effects of long Covid are lingering after he struggled following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The seven-time Formula One world champion suffered with mild dizziness and fatigue after Sunday’s chaotic race at a wet but hot Hungaroring in which he went from first to last before battling back for a third-place finish that was eventually upgraded to second after Sebastian Vettel’s disqualification for a fuel infringement.

Hamilton - who now leads rival Max Verstappen by eight points in the F1 title race - attended the podium ceremony but missed the start of the post-race press conference and visited the Mercedes team doctor.

After arriving to address the media, the Briton said: "Everything got a bit blurry on the podium.

"I've been fighting all year, really, with staying healthy after what happened at the end of last year.

“It's still a battle.”

Hamilton tested positive for coronavirus in December and missed the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain as Williams’ George Russell deputised for Mercedes, before returning for the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.

"I haven’t spoken to anyone particularly about it but I think it is lingering,” Hamilton said.

"I remember when I had it, training has been different since then, the levels of fatigue that you get, it’s different.

"Who knows what it is today, maybe it’s 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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