F1 star fined for speeding .......again

Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton has been fined €578 (about R7400) for speeding by a court in Laon, France.

Hamilton had already been banned from driving in France for a month after he was caught driving at 196km/h in a Mercedes on a national road near the northern town of Laon on December 16, 2007 and paid a fine of €600 (R7650) in Janauary 2008

'He is aware of his responsibility towards young people'
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The speed limit on French motorways is 130km/h. The car was impounded and was collected later by a friend of Hamilton.

Hamilton did not attend the hearing but his lawyer Jean-Francois Veroux said that "for Hamilton it's as if he had made a mistake during a GP because he is aware of his responsibility towards young people".

Veroux added that his client was also willing to participate in a road safety campaign.

A police spokesman said at the time: "He admitted the offence immediately and was really very polite," adding that Hamilton had said in his defence that the motorway was "very clear" at the time. – AFP