Hamilton's flight of fancy

Updated 17.16 Mon Jul 14 2008

Keywords: formula one, F1, learjet, hampshire, farnborough, lewis hamilton

What does a Grand Prix-winning driver do in his downtime? He takes on a Learjet of course.

Fresh from success at Silverstone, the Formula One ace pitted his McLaren against the executive jet at the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire, to find out who was fastest.

Fresh from success at Silverstone, the Formula One ace pitted his McLaren against the executive jet at the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire

As the Learjet 60SR flew above him, Hamilton - the Bombardier Learjet Brand Ambassador - roared down the runway in commemoration of 45 years since the first Learjet was flown.

Hamilton said: "I haven't flown a Lear 45 or 60, but I do plan to at some stage. I haven't managed to get the pilot out of the seat yet, but it was quite an experience today to actually be in a Formula One car on the runway.

"I'm quite often here so I know what it's like on the runway in a plane, but being in a Formula One car, I was looking for the plane, I know it was quite spectacular and I do hope I get the opportunity soon."