Hamilton charged over reckless driving in Melbourne

London, May 23(ANI): McLaren's Formula One racing ace Lewis Hamilton has been officially charged for March's reckless driving incident outside the Australian Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne.

A court date has been set for August 24, but it is not clear if Hamilton will fly to Australia as he is due to race in Belgium from August 27 to 29, News of The World reports.

The charge is for intentionally losing control of his vehicle on a public road in Albert Park.

Hamilton's car was impounded in March for 48 hours after police caught him doing a burnout with his silver Mercedes.

Earlier, Victorian Major Events Minister Tim Holding had said that Hamilton would not be given any VIP treatment for the driving offence.

"It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you've come from. If you break our hoon driving laws in Victoria you will have your car impounded and you will face the full force of the law," Holding had said.

"Lewis Hamilton has learned that. I suppose it just sends a really powerful lesson to everyone that if you do the wrong thing on Victorian roads you will get caught," he added. (ANI)