Lewis Hamilton woke up feeling bruised and battered a day after his suffering Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the Mercedes driver reassured his fans that he will be in action next weekend in Montreal.

Hamilton crossed the checkered flag in Baku on Sunday fourth but in considerable agony, hit by acute pain in his back due to his Mercedes car's bouncing and bottoming around Baku's bumpy track.

The seven-time world champion appeared so afflicted that Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff suggested that the Brackley squad would perhaps need to call up one of its reserve drivers for this week's Canadian Grand Prix if Hamilton wasn't able to drive.

The Briton admitted after the race that his afternoon had been an ordeal and somewhat of a "strange experience", saying that there had been "a lot of moments where I didn’t know if I was going to make it" due to the tormenting back pain.

"Just whether I was going to keep the car on track, because I don't know if you saw it, I nearly lost it in the high speed several times," he said. "So the battle with the car was intense.

"There were so many times I was nearly going into the wall. So that was a concern, safety-wise at 180 miles an hour, smashing into the wall, I don't think I've really ever had to think about that too much as a racing driver.

"You don't really ever think about keeping it out of the wall at that high speed. A very, very, very strange experience."

"And then at the end, the last 10 laps to the flag, I was just having to go internal, like 'You can do this, you've got this. Just bear with it.'"

©Mercedes

On Monday, Hamilton took to social media to give his fans an update n his physical condition.

"Yesterday was tough and had some troubles sleeping but have woke up feeling positive today!" he said.

"Back is a little sore and bruised but nothing serious thankfully. I've had acupuncture and physio with Ang an am on the way to my team to work with them on improving.

"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," concluded the Mercedes charger.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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