Hamilton has a street in Stevenage named after him - but he's off to Switzerland
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The people of Stevenage did their best, but even dedicating a street to the town's golden boy could not persuade him to stay.
Yesterday, just one day after Stevenage Borough Council said it was naming a street in his honour, Lewis Hamilton announced he was following in Michael Schumacher's tyre tracks and heading for the Alpine pastures (and tax breaks) of Switzerland.
The 22-year-old, who lost the Formula 1 world championship by a single point in Brazil nine days ago, has been agonising about a move for most of a season in which he became one of the motor racing world's most instantly recognisable personalities. "I've decided to move to Switzerland," he told the BBC. "You really struggle to live a normal life. I've not been able to spend a lot of time with my friends, my family. You come home and everyone knows you, it makes it so much harder to do normal things. I go to the bathroom in a petrol station and people come in there for autographs. It's tough but I knew that was going to be the case."
As Schumacher discovered, things are different in Switzerland, a tax haven. "People don't come up to you there," Hamilton said. "They leave you, they give you your space."
Over the summer, Hamilton repeatedly dropped hints suggesting he would leave the UK once the season was over and regularly complained about the paparazzi photographers who would document his every move outside the race track.
"Every time I go to London, cameras appear from God knows where," he said after the qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix in August. "Pressure on the track doesn't get to me, I'm able to manage it and get on with the job. But in your personal life, it affects you."
Hamilton also accused F1 authorities of treating McLaren unfairly last season. "They're obviously tough on us, maybe more than on others," he told Sky News. "Next year, we know what to expect. We should keep our heads down and just get on with it."
He still has an outside chance of being declared 2007 world champion if McLaren's appeal on 15 November against events at Interlagos is upheld. The team has appealed against the stewards' decision not to penalise Williams or BMW Sauber for fuel irregularities. If their cars were to be disqualified, Hamilton's elevated position may see him handed the points needed to overhaul Raikonnen as champion. Hamilton says he would not want to win the title that way. "I don't live with regrets," he said. "It's something I've learnt to deal with over the years. I've reached my goal, I've got to Formula 1. Obviously, there's another step I want to take which is becoming world champion but I'm 22 years old, I've got time to do that."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments