LEWIS HAMILTON has found a novel way of relaxing after another controversial F1 race – by popping wheelies on a remote-controlled monster truck.
The seven-times World Champion finished 5th at the weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix after being frustrated for much of the race by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.
He then had to watch former title rival Max Verstappen pick up his second F1 crown, a year after he pipped Hamilton to last year’s title in dramatic and contentious circumstances.
The Brit put all of that on the backburner as he enjoyed his downtime before the US Grand Prix.
Hamilton posted a video of himself buying a remote-controlled Lunchbox branded truck, which is valued at £135.
The video shows the F1 star excitedly handling the yellow vehicle and bouncing it on the store counter.
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Hamilton then nods in satisfaction before buying the toy and taking it outside.
The 37-year-old then drives it around in glee, at one point exclaiming “it’s so cool!”
He then starts tipping the truck on its back wheels as he drives it around before shouting “it does wheelies!”
Before his youth karting and then his F1 career, Hamilton used to race remote-controlled cars around and has previously spoke of his passion for it.
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The Mercedes driver will be back to racing in a real car when F1 goes to Austin later this month as he prepares for the final four races of the season.
But the sport is caught in a cycle of controversy at the moment and it continued in the last race in Japan.
Verstappen’s inevitable crowning was almost overshadowed by confusion over the rules.
F1 chiefs also have questions to answer after Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly was left furious by the appearance of a recovery truck on a wet track in Suzuka.
And fans were angry after Red Bull were found to have breached cost cap rules yesterday.
These recent issues come on top of an ongoing row about Hamilton’s jewellery and debates over races ending under the safety car.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
