Hamilton in trouble over driving stunts

Hamilton, 25, was stopped in Melbourne for allegedly "deliberately losing traction" of the vehicle.

Hours earlier Hamilton clocked the fastest time in practice sessions ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was pulled over at 9.15pm on Thursday (10.15am in Britain) while driving a 2010 Mercedes C63.

Reports in Australia said the 2008 Swiss-based Formula 1 world champion was seen "doing a burnout and fishtail".

Hamilton released a statement through McLaren, for whom he drives in the Formula 1 championship, apologising for his actions.

"I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police," he said. "What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."

It is not the first time Hamilton has been in trouble and in December 2007 he was suspended from driving in France for a month after being caught speeding at 121mph on a motorway.