Lewis Hamilton loses licence
December 19, 2007 by Matt Brogan
Formula One star Lewis Hamilton has lost his driver’s license after being caught speeding on a French Motorway.
Hamilton was doing 196km/h in his Mercedes-Benz when he was pulled over near the town of Laon, 66km/h over the posted speed limit.
He immediately had his car impounded, was fined about $A1000 and had his licence suspended for one month (in France).
The McLaren driver finished runner-up in his 2007 rookie season to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
Print it: 
OOH that gotta hurt!
Good……..I guess they have to understand its not a race track and yep they can drive with 30 others on a track that also can steer………but you trust them not to do stupid stuff,unlike those on the road! What was he thinking?
I agree BM, 66km/h over is blatent stupidity.
I think you will find the fine was 600 Euros or just over $1000 AUD not $100 AUD – and he is only suspended from driving in France. Don’t think either of those will bother him too much.
Typo – thanks Stevo!
well actually that speed is not so unusual. When I went to Europe, in some countries, it was not uncommon to be traveling along at 170-180k an hour on the freeways – and that was only keeping up with traffic. So I take it BM that you have not actually been to Bavaria then – given your post :-)
True Flying High, some Motorways / Autobahns / Autostradas allow this, but most have posted speed limits. In that instance a fine is attracted from exceeding said limit.
Yes Flying High I second that. Obviously not condoning breaking the speed limit, but due to the much higher driving standards on European Motorways (i.e. less tail gating, undertaking, hogging the middle and right hand lanes which is rife on Australian roads) allows the traffic to travel much faster more safely. Of course you have to watch out for what other road users may do (such as the FIAT CEO smashing up his Ferrari previously) but it is less likely to happen with the proper driver training. I have driven on many roads in the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Australia and the standards on the Australian Motorways are in comparison diabolical.
Normal 22 year old invincible – just experienced an easy consequence.
The A26 Calais to Reims road is a fast dual lane highway and is heavily policed, especially near Laon. I doubt if any locals speed on that section.
actually Matt, the speeds driven on the freeway were irrespective of the posted speed ‘limit’. People were driving to the ‘conditions’ and in many cases this was faster than a number shown on a sign at the side of a road.
I have driven in France – a lot and let me tell you that 200km/h is relatively safe over long stretches of road.
Australian beurocrats have done such an apaulling job planning our highway system that unfortunately, most drivers in this country will never be able to comprehend what on earth I am talking about.
It’s ironic isn’t it, that we have one of the largest countries in the world, and yet out speed limits are some of the lowest in the developed world. In contrast, countries such as France, Germany and Italy – some of the smaller countries in the world but with huge populations when compared to ours, allow speed limits which are considerably more than ours!
Hey Flying High……no I haven’t but hubby has!
I totally understand what your saying but he was doing 66ks over the said limit….What gives him or others the rights to do those speeds where its indicated otherwise! What people that do speeds like that have to understand yep you may be a great wheeler but what about every one else on the road…..That was my point!As far as people driving faster than posted speed limits yep I know….they do it in the US too, around 15-20 MPH on the freeways and yes I can understand
there are too many on the road for the Police to book them all plus if every one kept to the limit in those conditions
traffic wont flow as fast! But as I said before 66ks is a reasonable amount over the limit!
I have a dream. It is to build roads here in Oz that have no speed limit – like the times of old when you got those signs with a black circle and a cross through it – ‘cept the roads will not be glorified goat tracks like way back then. And a police car wont be allowed within cooee of it.
wasnt the Stuart Highway in NT unlimited? Now it has a speed limit?
I used to live in France for 5 years, I wasn’t driving that time but my dad was. Every time in Aug (school holiday) we traveled accross europe and we always were doing 180km/h on a Peugeot 205 GR on the highway. When we were close to a town, we slowed down to 110km/h and it felt like we were crawling.
All the cars were rapidely passing on your left. Just as Flying High was saying, you have to adept to the “conditions”. If almost everyone is traveling 180km/h, you don’t want to go for 130km/h unless you want someone to crash behind you.
correction, peugeot 203 GR
Ivan which era was that? I think the 203 was from the 50’s
You lot have it all wrong. THe speed limits are roughly the same as Oz. 110 on highways less on single carriageways. Yes we drive at higher speeds as the cops are more tolerant of speeding. Not many people drive more than 140K’s for long nowadays and they are risking their licenses.
I was recently pulled for 135kmh but let off as I was polite and apologetic.
Hamilton got off really lightly considering, he deserved more.
I agree, he was simply speeding, 66 over and got caught.
The same deal with anyone regardless of your job or status.
He did get off lightly.