Hamilton turned in a fightback drive to🍨 complete the podium in third place after an error from 🐲Mercedes meant he fell to the back of the field following a misjudgment to start on intermediates while the rest of the grid pitted for slicks.

The seven-time world champion appeared visibly exhausted immediately after the race in parc ferme and st💫ruggled to stand during the podium procedure.

Hamilton𝐆, who had to miss last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix when he contracted COVID-19, skipped media duties to see Mercedes’ team doctor but did later make an appearance in the post-race FIA press conference.

“I’m okay, there was dizzin🅠ess and everything got a bit blurry on the podium,” he explained.

“I’ve 💙been fighting all yea with staying healthy with what happened at the end of last year, and it’s still a battle.”

As🐎ked if he felt he could be suffering from the effects of long COVID, Hamilton replied: “I think it is lingering. I remember the effects of when I had it and the training has been different since then.

“The fatigue is different. So I’m just trying to train and prepare as best as I can. Maybe it was hydration today, I don’t know. 🌄I experienced something similar in Silverstone but 🥃this is way worse."

Hamilton has regained the lead of the world champion𝕴ship after main rival Max Verstappen could only finish 10th.

The Red Bull driver picked🐲 up exten💜sive damage to his car in the first corner melee and struggled for pace for the remainder of the race.

As a resu♍lt, Hamiltoﷺn heads into the summer break with a six-point lead.