Lewis Hamilton’s theatrics landed him in the trouble as he was fined by the police for showboating on a Mercedes-Benz E500 while in the Australia. The British driver, currently in the employment of McLaren-Mercedes Formula one team, was fined US $444 after being stopped by the local police.The 2010 Australian Grand Prix was surely a race to forget for Hamilton who came sixth and more embarrassingly, 29.8 seconds behind his underdog team mate Jenson Button who claimed the pole. With his off track behavior, the McLaren-Mercedes driver has been dragged into the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
The embarrassment for him doesn’t end here, as the 2008 champion was called a ‘dickhead’ by the Australian Politician Tim Pallas, who happens to be the roads minister for Victoria. The rather blunt title is not down to some deep routed prejudice against the superstars; it is part of a government backed campaign for safe driving which carries the bold slogan ‘don’t be a dickhead’
The driver didn’t personally appear at his hearing in the Melbourne, probably because he had already confessed beforehand to the offense of the reckless driving and was thus convicted with the guilty plea. Thus, an offense that took place back in March has finally been accounted for. It can be argued that such high profile superstars, given their fame and influence, do merit a higher degree of responsibility on their part. Commenting on the whole saga, Hamilton claimed, "I have found this very upsetting because I am passionate about road safety and I do voluntarily carry out activities to promote international road safety, particularly among young adults."
Australian driver and fellow Formula1 compatriot, Mark Webber offered a more empathic front by criticizing the strict laws of Victoria that leave little margin for cutting loose a time or two – ‘A Nanny State’. While some might consider it a bold move standing up for a foreign driver and championship rival; putting the sense of national road security in the backseat was rather naïve of the Aussie driver.
