Hamilton says he’ll move to Switzerland to escape media

 

Roar Pro

By AP, 30 Oct 2007 AP is a Roar Pro

• Tweet this
• Email to friend

0 Have your say

Lewis Hamilton is moving to Switzerland to escape the public and media glare in Britain following his sensational rookie year in Formula One.

The McLaren driver, who finished second in the championship behind Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, grew up in Stevenage, 53km north of London.

Hamilton insisted his decision to move was based on media and public intrusion, not the more favourable tax rates in Switzerland.

“Over there people don’t come up to you, they leave you alone and give you space,” the 22-year-old told BBC Sport on Monday.

“I’m going to a country that I don’t know but it’s very exciting.”

Hamilton’s decision came a day after the Stevenage Borough Council said it would name a street after him.

“You lose your ability to go places – you don’t understand what that means until you get there and you really struggle to lead a normal life,” he said.

“When you come home and everybody knows you, it makes it so much harder to do normal things.

“I can’t go to the cinema. I go to the bathroom in a petrol station and people come in there for autographs.”

Switzerland is also home to Raikkonen and Hamilton’s McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.

© 2007 The Associated Press

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.