After missing the Sakhir Grand Prix last weekend following a positive test for COVID-19, World Champion Lewis Hamilton returned to his seat for Free Practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

Hamilton admitted it felt like it was the first day back at school, but he showed no signs of rustiness as he finished 2nd quickest in FP2, 0.2s adrift of teammate Valtteri Bottas. 

“I was very, very happy and grateful this morning, just to be back here. And, obviously, to be able to try and finish off the season strong, I was super excited,’’ Hamilton told Sky following FP2.  

“It felt like a first day back at school kind of thing. It definitely took a minute to get back used to it for the first session. In the second one I was still getting my bearings but [it was] not too bad.”  

Hamilton didn’t have a perfect day at the wheel as a brake problem curtailed his running early in FP1 and also had a brief problem in the second session with no gears working.  

“I think we got through most of the stuff we missed out in the 40-minute session at the start of the day but otherwise we got most of the stuff done. 

“The guys have obviously been on the road for three weeks so we’ve had a couple of gremlins but we come through like we always do and tomorrow, I know, will be better. 

“We got through a lot of things that we need to test for next year today. The guys are just working as hard as they can to work on things for next year.” 

Hamilton was also asked what he thought of George Russell’s fantastic debut for Mercedes in Bahrain next weekend. The seven-time World Champion was impressed. 

“I think George did an amazing job. I think everyone knows that. 

“For me, in my 27 years of racing, I’ve never missed a race. One day I’ll write a book about it. But as I said I’m just grateful to be back.” 

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TEAM 💛 Chuffed to have the 7x Champ back where he belongs and doing what he does best! 🙌 @LewisHamilton #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/n7grZQtWwp

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 11, 2020