Sir Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that he will be racing at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix after fears that his back problems would prevent him from doing so.
The seven-time world champion has been suffering with back pains all season thanks to the extreme ‘porpoising’, which sees cars bouncing intensely up and down when travelling at high speeds, that his Mercedes W13 is struggling with.
The issue hit new heights at the last race in Azerbaijan, where Hamilton was visibly in agony as he climbed out of his car and later said: ‘I can’t express the pain that you experience and you’re just praying for it to end.’
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had expressed concern that his driver could miss the next round at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve thanks to his injuries, but Hamilton has since stated that he will be back in the cockpit as Formula 1 returns to Montreal for the first time since 2019.
In an Instagram story, the 37-year-old said: ‘Sunday was tough and had some troubles sleeping but have woken up feeling positive today. Back is a little sore and bruised but nothing serious, thankfully.
‘I’ve had acupuncture and physio with Ang [Angela Cullen, Hamilton’s physiotherapist, and confidante] and am on the way to my team to work with them on improving [the car].
‘We have to keep fighting. No time like the present to pull together and we will.
‘I’ll be there this weekend, wouldn’t miss it for the world. Wishing everybody an amazing day and week.’
Montreal is a venue that Hamilton is deeply fond of having taken his first F1 victory there in 2007 and he holds the record for the most wins in Canada with seven alongside Michael Schumacher.
Meanwhile, the issue of ‘porpoising’ and the health and safety problems it causes is set to take centre stage in light of Hamilton and others’ complaints about it.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. has recently called on the FIA to take action on the matter while Red Bull boss Christian Horner has added fuel to the fire by controversially suggesting that drivers and teams were exaggerating the issue for their own personal gain.
MORE : Carlos Sainz demands FIA find quick solution to F1 problem drivers are ‘struggling to handle’
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