Quitting to avoid tax? No, it's so I can learn to cook, says Hamilton

It is not to avoid fans in filling stations, as he suggested last week. Nor, as we suspected, is it to escape the clutches of the tax man. He is leaving because he wants to learn to cook.

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'First of all we are here to talk about that book,' he snapped, when pressed about the most controversial decision of his young career at the launch of his autobiography.

'But I will answer the question. I love my fans, not only in the UK but all over the world. So when people come up to me, I'm pleased to meet them and make them happy. It's a great feeling for anyone to have someone ask for a picture or an autograph.

'In my heart my only home is where I grew up and go back to. But you can't live at home all your life. You need to get out and experience living on your own, cooking for yourself.

'I am at the point in life when I have the opportunity to see the world. I don't see why I can't go somewhere else. And I chose Switzerland. For me, it is not a tax haven. I've been in England the last few years paying tax. It's not an issue. I was advised to ignore the tax issue, so I did.'

For the record, Hamilton was met by eight autograph-hunters, plus a jogger and assorted sightseers, on arrival at the Trafalgar hotel, on a corner of the Square where he would been feted with an open-top bus coronation if he had not missed out on the world championship by a point last month. Instead, he is facing a public backlash.

His appearances on the Wembley turf when gridiron came to town, followed by centre stage at the National TV awards and then the MTV Europe awards in Munich, have made a mockery of his claim that fame has forced him to beat a hasty retreat from Britain.

While he has been falling for Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, his McLaren team are in a state of flux. Fernando Alonso has been sacked and the race is on to replace him.

Hamilton's old friend Nico Rosberg, of Williams, is boss Ron Dennis's favourite, but Hamilton shrugged with indifference. Does he have any influence over the choice? 'No.' Does he mind? 'No.'

There is even the wild suggestion that Michael Schumacher could be tempted out of retirement to partner the new kid on the grid. 'Cool,' said Hamilton. 'Go for it. The car will be built around me and whoever joins.

'I've never been beaten by a team-mate. You just go out and compete and I like to do it fairly. At the end of the season, I never think "At least he didn't win".'

Turning to his fractious relationship with Alonso, he added: 'I wanted my team to win, whether it was for me or Fernando. I spoke to him recently and I wished him all the best. He's still indecisive and doesn't know what he is doing yet. I wish him all the best and look forward to racing him next year.'

Hamilton, his Switzerland faux pas apart, is still a convincing role model, who really is as willing to meet his supporters as he suggests, dutifully looking youngsters in the eyes and patting them on the back.

'My book comes from my heart,' he added. 'It's not set out to hurt anyone. It's set out to hopefully inspire young kids or anyone to see what they want to do and go for it.'

Lewis Hamilton My Story — published by HarperCollins (£18.99).