Lewis Hamilton Cleared After Investigation over Alleged Motorbike Video Selfies

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has avoided punishment after being investigated by New Zealand police for appearing to film himself with his mobile phone while riding a motorbike.

According to Natalie Evans in the Mirror, Hamilton posted two videos on Snapchat that appeared to show him filming while riding a Harley Davidson in Auckland on New Zealand's North Island. 

While it has been illegal in New Zealand since 2009 to use a mobile phone while operating a vehicle, a police spokesman said they lacked the evidence to establish whether Hamilton, 31, had committed an offence, per Press Association (via Sky Sports):

"Auckland City Police will be taking no further action in relation to recent media publicity about Lewis Hamilton and his motorcycle journey in Auckland. The video footage available does not provide us with sufficient enough evidence that an offence has occurred."

The videos can be seen below:

When questioned on the matter at a pre-race press conference in Melbourne, Australia, Hamilton had little to say, barely responding to all lines of questioning about whether he has a "responsibility to set an example to others not to do that," per the Guardian's Paul Weaver: "I don’t have much of an answer for you, unfortunately," he replied. 

When pushed on the matter, Hamilton said: "Again I don’t have much of an answer for you."

Hamilton had been visiting Auckland ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

He sent out a farewell photograph of the city upon his departure:

"

Thank you for having me Auckland even though it was way too short, I'll be back tho!  pic.twitter.com/0tGbOgHJvi

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 15, 2016"

The Englishman will be going for his third consecutive world title—fourth in total—in 2016 after heading the standings last season by 59 points to his Mercedes team-mate, Nico Rosberg.

Per Paul Weaver in the Guardian, last month's pre-season testing in Barcelona suggested that the Mercedes should still be the fastest car on the grid, but Ferrari look to be closing the gap from 2015.

Rosberg will likely be his closest rival again and Hamilton will undoubtedly be eager to make gains as early as possible over the German, and he will be targeting victory in Melbourne this weekend.

Hamilton recently told BBC Sport's Andrew Benson that he is "energised and excited" for the new season and is committed to continuing to prove his detractors wrong.

It will surely be a relief that he has escaped punishment for his Auckland antics as it could have been a major distraction for the start of the season had the investigation gone any further.

It is not the first time that Hamilton has been involved in driving controversy. In November he hit a stationary vehicle his £1.6 million super car in Monaco after "heavy partying" while celebrating his title win left him tired, per BBC Sport.

He was also fined £300 back in 2010—while at McLaren—for showboating for fans in his Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 road car outside Melbourne's Albert Park circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, per Tom Cary in the Telegraph.