Looks like Lewis Hamilton’s celebrating his 2015 Formula One World Championship has gone a bit too far. The ace driver, hashtag enthusiast and Britain’s thirstiest athlete came clean recently on Instagram (of course) about a car crash in Monaco, which he said happened from being exhausted on the heels of some “heavy partying.” According to news reports, Hamilton wasn’t injured and passed a breath test at the scene.
The BBC reports the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Hamilton reportedly hit several stationary cars in his own limited-edition $2 million Pagani Zonda, and while no one was hurt, I would not want to see what the repair bill on one of those looks like.
According to news reports, Hamilton reported the crash to police immediately, and told the BBC later that fatigue and too much partying contributed to the crash:
“It was a result of heavy partying and not much rest for 10 days,” Hamilton said of the crash and his health.
“I am a bit run down. I have been non-stop and trying to fit training in at the same time and not getting a lot of sleep.”
Update from the UK’s Telegraph: A Monaco police spokesman said Hamilton’s foot “slipped on the brake and clutch pedals”, causing him to hit three stationary cars. He was tested at the scene for alcohol, but the result was negative, the spokesman said.
In that same story, Hamilton admits to partying pretty hard lately since he secured the championship in Austin last month.
According to Fox Sports, the Mercedes team blamed Hamilton’s absence in Sao Paolo in the middle of the week on a “fever,” but press conference organizers said he cancelled one such event for “personal reasons.”
The champion explained his recent social media radio silence in the aftermath of the incident thusly on his Instagram:
Talking with the team and my doctor, we decided together that it was best for me to rest at home and leave a day later.
But i am feeling better and am currently boarding the plane to Brazil.
However, I am informing you because I feel we all must take responsibility for our actions. Mistakes happen to us all but what’s important is that we learn from them and grow.
Can’t wait for the weekend Brazil🙌🏾
Bless
Lewis
Hopefully Hamilton will have a better time driving on track at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix than he did in his Pagani.
#Blessed #TeamLH
Update 2: Here is an apparent photo of the “Zonta”’s wreck:
Photo credit AP
Contact the author at patrick@jalopnik.com.