Hamilton not in Melbourne for court date

Lewis Hamilton is not travelling to Australia early this week despite being due in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The McLaren driver was arrested in the city earlier this year for dangerous driving in a road car near the F1 circuit, later receiving an official charge and court summons for August 24.

But with this weekend’s Belgian grand prix now looming, the News of the World tabloid in Britain said Hamilton, 25, will be represented in court by a lawyer.

"It was something small," he is quoted as saying. "You pay the price and learn from it."