5Lewis Hamilton is hard at work in the gym ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand PrixCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton

5The 38-year-old posted a picture of himself pumping weights in the gymCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton

5Hamilton was also seen relaxing in the bathCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton

5The F1 season is set to return in Baku after a four-week breakCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton

5Hamilton started the campaign with two fifth-place finishes before securing P2 last time out in AustraliaCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton

Hamilton will return to action for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, with practice set to get underway on Friday.

And ahead of the race, the Brit F1 legend posted a selection of snaps to his 32.4million Instagram followers.

In the pictures, Hamilton pumped iron in the gym and worked out in preparation for the race.

He was also seen relaxing in a bath ahead of the weekend’s action.

Hamilton captioned his post with a motivational message for his followers.

The seven-time F1 world champion wrote: “What does it mean to be motivated? For me it means choosing to push myself to be better in all things. In our work, in creativity, in life overall.

“Motivation means taking care of ourselves, training both mind and body, and working toward progress no matter how small it may seem. I’m no stranger to tough days.

“When they come, it feels impossible to push on. That negativity isn’t real, it’s all in the mind and I know you have it in you to overcome it.”

Hamilton began the campaign with back-to-back fifth-place finishes, but was P2 behind Max Verstappen last time out at the Australian GP.

And Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said to “trust the process” as the team bid to make ground on a dominant Red Bull car.

Starting from this weekend in Baku, F1 chiefs have agreed to a shake up of the season’s sprint races.

The shorter race has been replaced with sprint qualifying – known as ‘the sprint shootout’, which will take place before the 100km sprint race.

Qualifying to determine the grid for Sunday’s main race will take place on Friday, with one practice session scrapped.