Fans were left confused by some of Lewis Hamilton's comments following Sunday's Malaysia Grand Prix, the driver paying tribute to the drink that reminds many of those of a certain age of hospitals and hangovers.

"A big thanks to Lucozade for doing such a great job with the new race hydration formulations this weekend," said the McLaren driver, "they've really made a difference in such a hot and humid climate."

He was in fact referring to a new collaboration announced on Thursday that sees GlaxoSmithKline R&D scientists working with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team to create two bespoke Lucozade formulations aimed at supporting optimal performance. The collaboration is part of GSK's long-term strategic partnership with McLaren Group.

The two hydration formulations were used for the first time at this weekend's Grand Prix by Hamilton and Jenson Button and the team supporting them.

The 'Lucozade Hydration Formulation' contains a precise and scientifically determined mix of essential hydration salts, carbohydrates and proteins to support the optimal performance of the whole team in the unique environment that is Formula 1 racing.

The 'Lucozade Race Formulation' is scientifically formulated to aid performance in high temperatures and extreme G-forces, but also to answer specific needs relating to weight management, driver alertness and speed of absorption into the body.

"Hydration in the cockpit is extremely important," said Button, "and I know that only too well from a past experience during the Malaysian Grand Prix when my fluid bottle broke. That meant I couldn't take on any liquids during one of the hottest and most physically difficult races on the calendar. By the end of the race, I was in pretty bad shape - which just goes to show that, without proper hydration, your performance and your abilities behind the wheel are severely compromised.

"I'm really pleased that the team has worked closely with Lucozade's scientists," he added, "and it's great that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has its own unique formulations - both in and out of the cockpit. I think our race formulation will be a really important asset: not only will it keep us refreshed and hydrated during races, but it should also improve our concentration and decision-making abilities in the cockpit."

"It's fantastic that we've been able to work on this project with Lucozade's scientists," added Hamilton. "Make no mistake, hydration is important: during a race, you can lose up to four kilos in fluid - that's a significant percentage of your bodyweight, and something that can really affect your performance in the car. One of the benefits of working so closely with our human high performance team at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is that Lucozade has really tailored the taste of the drinks to our preferences."