Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton may be in hot water with police after publishing footage of himself using a cellphone while driving a motorbike.
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Using a mobile while driving became illegal in November 2009 although it continues to be an issue on New Zealand roads.
He and his companions, who included his de facto social media manager, “Spinz”, were unusually travelling economy, causing Hamilton to post a video in which he says: ‘Man, I’m loving these commercial flights.
The incident came less than 24 hours after the British Formula 1 driver blew up on Twitter over being treated “like dirt” at an Auckland casino.
Other photos and videos show the crew on top of a glacier and Hamilton playing golf on a mountain top.
Clearly comfortable behind the wheel, Hamilton, travelling at a speed that appears to be just below 60 km/h, starts by filming the traffic in front of him. “Worst casino experience ever!” he wrote on Monday night.
At a court hearing which took place in his absence five months later, Hamilton was fined about $NZ617, but escaped a driving conviction.
A Mercedes spokesman confirmed that the world champion has been in New Zealand this week for personal reasons rather than any official duties. Sky City’s policy actually bans mobile phones from being used at the table.
As he jetted out of Queenstown for Australia Hamilton added another message to fans expressing his surprise at the reaction to his posts.
The 31-year-old Briton did a bit of sightseeing yesterday, renting a “sick” Harley Davidson motorcycle from a North Shore business for a jaunt around Auckland.
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“We have touched base with him to discuss his experience”, Sky City group communications manager Kelly Armitage told the New Zealand Herald.
