[bbfan1991]

The former world champion, 25, was pulled over by Victorian police in Melbourne on Friday evening local time after officers witnessed him “deliberately losing traction”.

The McLaren driver, who was fastest in second practice for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, was stopped near the Albert Park circuit.


Hamilton released a statement through McLaren, apologising for his actions.

He said: "I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police. What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."

He was with an unnamed passenger in the car. Police sources said officers did not realise who they had pulled over.

Local reports said he did “a burnout and a fishtail” in his latest series silver Mercedes in front of a Victoria Police divisional van, in the suburb of St Kilda, where officers then pulled him over.

Police said he is now expected to be charged with a court summons “in relation to improper use of a motor vehicle”. His vehicle has been impounded for 48 hours under tough new local driving laws.

“A 25 year-old man who resides in Switzerland … was seen driving about 9.15pm when the driver deliberately lost traction of the vehicle,” said Constable Wayne Wilson a Victoria police spokesman.

“The vehicle was intercepted by police. The driver was spoken to by officers and is expected to be charged on summons in relation to the improper use of a vehicle.”

It is expected he will appear in court at a later date.

After the incident became public, Hamilton was forced to issue a statement through his team apologising for his actions.

“This evening, I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police," Hamilton said.

"What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."

A Mclaren team spokesman declined to comment further.


I like him but what a fool, his own fault, had to laugh at the McLaren people on the news report trying to block Lewis' Mercedes.. he looked peed off but not even the PR could save them both from the embarrassment oh well at least he won in the qualifying.