Lewis Hamilton did not appear to be suffering the after effects of a week of partying as he dominated the first practice session at the Brazil Grand Prix and managed to avoid colliding with any other vehicles, days after he was involved in a car crash in Monaco.
The newly-crowned world champion admitted he had endured a "difficult week" after being taken ill following a week of celebrations following his third world title.
He also had the matter of the crash to contend with. He was behind the wheel of his Pagani Zonda 760 horsepower V12 supercar, which has a top speed of 217mph, when the crash happened at 3.30am on Tuesday, reports The Times. Fortunately he was not speeding and the only damage was to three parked cars.
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Hamilton was tested for alcohol but the "result was negative" according to the Monaco authorities, who explained that his "foot slipped on the brake and clutch pedals"
Hamilton explained that the prang in Monaco and his fever was the "result of heavy partying and not much rest for ten days". It may have delayed his departure for Brazil but does not appear to have dented his confidence behind the wheel. The Mercedes driver appeared to be back to his best as he posted a lap time half a second better than that of his team mate Nico Rosberg at Interlagos.
Whoever Hamilton has been partying with since winning the title, there were rumours he had been spending time with his former girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger last week, it is unlikely Rosberg was invited.
Their relationship "appears to be at an all-time low following two successive years in which they have gone head to head for the championship", says The Guardian.
The latest barb came from Rosberg, who reacted to an insinuation from Hamilton that Mercedes had given the German preferential treatment in Mexico allowing him to win the race by dismissing it as an "excuse" for Hamilton's inability to win.
