Hamilton overcomes neck spasms to keep title lead
By Timothy Collings
VALENCIA, Spain, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton stretched his Formula One lead to six points after overcoming 'flu symptoms and neck spasms that threatened to rule him out of Sunday's European Grand Prix.
The 23-year-old Briton finished second but said afterwards that it had been "touch and go" whether he raced, with McLaren's Spanish reserve and test driver Pedro de la Rosa on standby earlier in the week.
"I had to have injections for my neck and luckily I have got a great doctor and a great team or I might not have made it," said Hamilton.
"As it was, it was pretty tough in the race and I had a lot of pain. But I don't think I lost any time in the race because of it. I never lose time."
Hamilton's eight points left him six points ahead of Ferrari's Brazilian race winner Felipe Massa. Hamilton now has 70 points to Massa's 64 with world champion Kimi Raikkonen third for Ferrari on 57.
It was the second race in succession where Hamilton had failed to win but moved further ahead in the championship.
Asked about his neck problems, he said he believed they were caused by the position he slept in and the size of his pillow.
"I think the spasms started when I woke up at around 5 a.m. yesterday (Saturday) and they were so bad I was struggling to stand up," he explained.
"I had to have injections in my neck and I took some painkillers and I got through it, but it was tough. Pedro was looking forward to racing, I know that."
Hamilton said he had felt unwell since arriving in Valencia on Thursday.
"I have had a miserable weekend really from the day I arrived - I have a lot of flu symptoms, a fever every day.
"I have had low energy, just felt poorly with problems with the spasms in my neck which led to me being in doubt for the weekend and obviously for this race."
Hamilton said his neck was still sore but doubted it would remain a problem for the next Belgian Grand Prix, where the sweeping Spa-Francorchamps circuit is a far more physically-demanding challenge than the Valencia street track. (Editing by Alan Baldwin)
