Speeding Ban for Hamilton

When your performance is measured by how fast you can drive on the track, sticking to speed limits in your private life can be a bit of a nuisance. But French police officers showed no leniency towards Lewis Hamilton when he was clocked driving at 122mph at the weekend - fining him €600 (£430) and suspending his license for a month.

The motor-racing prodigy was caught speeding near the city of Laon in northern France as he drove along the A26 towards Reims at about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. He was traveling 42mph above the national motorway speed limit. "He was very polite and cooperative," a police spokesman told Reuters, adding that Hamilton had since arranged for the car to be picked up.

A spokesman for McLaren, for whom he drives, said: "[We] were made aware that Lewis was stopped for speeding in France whilst driving in a private capacity. We understand he has received a mandatory fine and suspension from driving in France for one month."

He added that the incident would not affect Hamilton's professional driving career. Hamilton, 22, was leading this year's world championship until the final race of the season in Brazil, when he was pipped to the title by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. He won four races during the season and remains among the favorites for next year's title. However, much of his racing during the season was overshadowed by the fierce competition between him and his teammate, Fernando Alonso. Hamilton's second-place finish made him the most successful rookie in the history of the sport.

Hamilton is the latest British formula one star to abandon the UK. He recently announced that he was leaving his home town of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and moving to Switzerland.