Another PR blunder by Hamilton, who celebrates topping Friday practice by performing a smoky ‘burn-out’ following a ‘deliberate loss of traction of the wheels’ at the wheel of a Mercedes C63 AMG.

“A man who resides in Switzerland was arrested after leaving the grand prix circuit at Albert Park at 9.15pm local Melbourne time today,” revealed a Victorian Police spokesman. “Officers noticed there was a deliberate loss of traction of the wheels of the motor car, ie. the wheels were spinning.

“Legal process will take place in due course and there is a monetary charge by summons. The man was returned to his hotel and the car has been impounded for 48 hours. He does not have to appear in court, and alcohol was not a factor in the incident.”

Hamilton is expected to be summonsed, charged and fined for improper use of a motor vehicle. In a McLaren statement, the Hamilton stated: “This evening, 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.”

It is also not the first time Hamilton has had his road car taken away from him by police,  when he was clocked speeding at 196km/h on a French motorway less than three years ago.

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