Hamilton hits road to Switzerland

LONDON, England -- Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton is moving to Switzerland to escape the pressures and intrusions of life in Britain, saying he can't even go to the bathroom in a petrol station without fans following him in for his autograph.

The 22-year-old missed out on becoming the youngest driver and first rookie to claim the world championship by just one point in a debut season that steered him straight to the hearts of a nation.

But 24 hours after his home town Stevenage announced the naming of a street after him, McLaren's Hamilton confirmed: "I've decided to move to Switzerland."

He told the BBC: "You lose your ability to go places -- you don't understand what that means until you get there and you really struggle to lead a normal life.

"I haven't been able to spend much time with my friends or my family - it's not like a normal job, you're travelling all the time, you live out of your suitcase and it's tough to manage that and still live a normal life.

"When you come home and everybody knows you, it makes it so much harder to do normal things.

"I can't go to the cinema. I go to the bathroom in a petrol station and people come in there for autographs."

He added: "It's tough but I knew that was going to be the case."

Of tax haven Switzerland, he added: "People don't come up to you. They leave you, they give you your space."

Hamilton still has an outside chance of being crowned 2007 world champion if the November 15 hearing into events at Interlagos goes McLaren's way after the British team appealed the result of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

The team are questioning the stewards' decision not to penalise Williams or BMW for fuel irregularities.

Were they to be disqualified, Hamilton could be handed the point that would see him overhaul Kimi Raikonnen as champion -- though the possibility appears unlikely.

Hamilton insists he is more than happy with his record-breaking year.

"The beginning of the season I was saying I just want to do a good job, keep my feet on the ground and just do a good job for the team and not embarrass myself and my family and friends," he said.

"It's just been a phenomenal rollercoaster. I don't live with regrets. It's something I've learnt to deal with over the years.

"Take a step back. If you'd have said 12 months ago, I'd be challenging for the world championship, finishing second in the world championship, I'd have been happy with it. Finishing fifth would have been great.

"I've reached my goal, I've got to Formula One. Obviously, there's another step I want to take which is becoming world champion but I'm 22 years old, my first year in Formula One, I've got time to do that."

Hamilton warned his rivals he will not give in until that dream is realised. "That's part of my personality. There's not been one person I've met who goes as far as me," he said.

"Some people just bail out right at the end and I still manage to do that little bit further. I will keep on going until I reach my goal." E-mail to a friend