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Lewis Hamilton to leave UK for Switzerland
30 October 2007
Lewis Hamilton has announced he will move to Switzerland because his popularity in Britain has made it impossible for him to lead a normal life. The 22 year-old said: “I’ve lost my ability to go places here. You don’t understand what that means until you get there and you really struggle to lead a normal life. Hamilton, who finished second in the F1 drivers’ championships this year, added: “When you go home and everybody knows you, it makes it so much harder to normal things. I can’t go to the cinema. I go to the bathroom in a petrol station and people come in for autographs.” He denied the move is partly motivated by a desire to pay less tax. F1 stars Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen have already moved to the country where tax rates are far lower than in most of Europe. Hamilton first suggested he might leave Britain in August. He said: "My whole holiday was in the papers. I was trying to relax, but I couldn't swim, because the cameras were waiting to get €10,000 for the pictures. “If I can't live a normal life and enjoy my life without being spread across the tabloids... we'll just have to wait and see. It's down to the media, really." The borough council of his native Stevenage has announced that it will name a street after Hamilton. Councillor Sharon Taylor said: “Our young people see him as a role model and his achievements have definitely raised their aspiration levels.” Meanwhile the FIA announced it will hear Hamilton’s team McLaren’s appeal against the results of the Brazilian Grand prix on November 15th. Four cars, three of which finished in front of Hamilton, were investigated for using fuel below regulation temperatures. If two of the cars that finished in front of Hamilton were disqualified it could make him world champion. But the Briton has said he wanted to win the title on the track and not in the court. Should Lewis Hamilton stay in the UK? Have your say on our blog. Auto Trader links Formula 1
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