Source: ReutersLewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton was stopped by police for behaving like a boy racer on Friday
only hours after he had wowed a Melbourne crowd with the fastest lap in
Australian Grand Prix practice.
The McLaren driver, who in 2008 became Formula One's youngest ever world
champion, found himself having to make a public apology about his behaviour in
Australia for the second year in a row. "This evening, I was driving in an
over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police," the
25-year-old Briton said in a McLaren statement.
"What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."
Senior police constable Scott Woodford told Reuters that a 25-year-old male,
resident in Switzerland, was stopped at 9.15pm in the St. Kilda neighbourhood at
the wheel of a brand new Mercedes.
He said the car, which had "accelerated heavily and lost traction to the rear
wheels" in making a turn, had been impounded and was due to be released on
Monday.
"He's expected to be charged on summons with the offence of improper use of a
motor vehicle," said Woodford, who added that Hamilton had a male passenger in
the car with him at the time.
"It's fair to say that he was disappointed with the whole incident but I must
say he was extremely cooperative throughout."
A team spokesman, contacted by reporters, could offer no further details.