Lewis Hamilton almost had to sit out Sunday’s European Grand Prix after battling with neck spasms and flu-like symptoms throughout the weekend.
The news was revealed after Hamilton followed Felipe Massa to the chequered flag to take second at the inaugural Grand Prix at Valencia.
“I’ve had a pretty miserable weekend, really,” Hamilton told reporters.
The British ace admits that he awoke Saturday morning with pains in his neck and had to have a spate of injections to prepare for Sunday’s race.
“It was so bad that I was struggling to basically stand up and so I had to have injections in my neck and take plenty of painkillers. It kind of nearly led to me not racing this weekend.”
McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa was on standby to fill in for Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton is confident he will be fit for the following races in Spa Francorchamps and Monza in a fortnight’s time.