Lewis Hamilton has performed a neat u-turn by admitting that minimising tax was indeed a factor in his decision to flee Britain to live in Switzerland.
The 22-year-old rookie was roundly criticised by the British press and public when he recently said their intrusion into his newly-public life – not the fact that he will annually save millions due to Switzerland’s tax policy – had moved him to select a new home overlooking Lake Geneva.
“For me, it is not a tax haven,” he had insisted. “I’ve been in England the last few years paying tax. It’s not an issue.”
But when asked by veteran talk show host Michael Parkinson whether tax was an issue, the McLaren driver said: “Also, that definitely adds to it.”
Hamilton insisted, however, that Switzerland will offer him a more serene life away from the race tracks.
“I really want to live a normal life if I can,” he said.
“I just felt it was another way for me to do that. Also I’m going to learn French, that’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” the 2007 runner-up added.
