Lewis Hamilton caught speeding (not that one!)

Lewis Hamilton would probably class 70 miles per hour as a gentle pace from his Mercedes Formula 1 car. A namesake of he four-time world champion has been in trouble with British police, however, after being clocked speeding in Middlesbrough, north-east England.

Motorsport star Hamilton regularly clocks speeds north of 300kmh for the Silver Arrows as he bolts around the tracks on the F1 calendar.

His namesake, 20-year-old Lewis Hamilton from Normanby, Middlesbrough, had a heart-stopping time of it, however, leading police on a chase through red lights before crashing into a lamppost and driving the wrong way around a roundabout.

The Evening Gazette says witnesses cited 10 police cars in chase of Mr Hamilton, who had failed to stop for officers and reached speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone.

The driver and four others in the car escaped on foot after skidding off the road, but Hamilton was eventually collared.

He admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence and driving without insurance at Teesside Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced at a later date at Crown Court.

The Gazette quotes Hamilton's counsel Andrew Foster: "He's a young man who works. I have got a reference from his employer. It's a good reference. He's clearly lost his good character."

His famous namesake will hope to end his own luckless run at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this week after failing to win the opening three races of the season.

Just mind the lampposts!