Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton

It seems officials in Melbourne, the place where Lewis Hamilton was apprehended for doing an illegal burnout on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix last March, have finally dropped charges against the F1 superstar.

Hamilton apologized for carrying out the burnout and was fined $500 AUD (approximately $442), the maximum amount possible under Australia’s hoon laws. Despite the fine, no conviction was recorded after defense lawyer Sandip Mukerjea argued a conviction could affect Hamilton's entry to the U.S. to see his Pussycat Dolls girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger.

Following last March’s incident, Hamilton had his car, a 451 horsepower C63 AMG that was owned by Mercedes-Benz, confiscated and apologized immediately for his actions.

Incidentally, this isn’t the first time Hamilton has had a run-in with the law. In 2007, Hamilton's car was impounded in France after he was caught speeding on a local highway in a Mercedes-Benz CLK.