Yet that quickly faded through a difficult first season, one that Hamilton described as a nightmare and left him questioning his own abilities as he failed to score a single podium finish all year.

Seven-time world champion proves ‘you always have it’ as he moves to within 41 points of championship leader Kimi Antonelli

The seven-time world champion finished ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, while Antonelli was forced to abandon in the final stages because of a technical problem.