Lewis Hamilton's nightmare weekend

A brush with the law, a mediocre qualifying result, a strategy row and a collision - the Australian GP wasn't much fun for Lewis Hamilton. Tony Dodgins examines the Briton's chaotic trip to Melbourne

The Melbourne weekend started badly for Lewis Hamilton and it didn't get much better. On Friday evening McLaren's communications chief found himself in a noisy restaurant and it was not until he looked at his phone that he discovered he had 23 missed calls from an 'L Hamilton.'

Lewis, leaving Albert Park in his Mercedes AMG C63, was reportedly fourth in a queue of cars waiting to turn left onto Melbourne's Fitzroy Street. When the lights changed it seems he employed a healthy dose of right foot and a couple of deft flicks of opposite lock to go round the outside of those ahead. If it impressed Bruno Senna, who was just behind, it left a less favourable impression on Victorian state Plod, stationed just around the corner. Lewis was rapidly pulled over and his car impounded. Melbourne's TV cameras were not long in arriving and by the time Hamilton had completed the formalities and got himself to bed, it was 12.30am.

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