F1 champ Lewis Hamilton investigated for “motorcycle selfie”

Lewis Hamilton, reigning Formula 1 champ and namesake of MV Agusta’s Lewis Hamilton Dragster RR, is under investigation for a “motorcycle selfie.”

It sounds a bit funny, because when you think of all the trouble a professional car racer could get into on public streets, using a cell phone doesn’t rank high on that list of offences. Nonetheless, several New Zealand media outlets are reporting Hamilton is under investigation by their country’s police (cell phone use while driving has been illegal there since 2009).

Hamilton is in New Zealand ahead of an upcoming F1 event, and he allegedly took a selfie photo (above) while riding a Harley-Davidson in Auckland. Police seem to be taking it pretty seriously, saying they “take a strong stance on any activity which places undue risk on the lives on any person on the road,” which is mildly ironic, considering Hamilton’s job description. In any case, we’re pretty sure he can afford the fine. And it could be worse — he could be off crashing supercars on public roads …