Hamilton is going to Switzerland to save tax. He will pay a prearranged lump sum which will be a fraction of his earnings, probably less than 5%.

j gallagher, london, uk

My view is that whilst Lewis can dress it up as media attention and the need for a quieter life for his decision to move to Switzerland, this may be true to a certain extent, but the real reason has to be 'financial'. He is a great F1 driver and for that there is copious amounts of respect and disappointment that he was unfortunate to not pull off the Championship in his first year. Regrettably, hiding behind media attention, is just a little naive not to acknowledge the 'financial benefit' of his move. We all look to improve our net income position and for those fortune to be able to relocate, good on them, just acknoweldge that is the reason! His fans will see right through this..... wise up Lewis!

Jules, London, England

Hamilton had better get to Switzrland fast..
I was looking forward to collecting 1300 Euro from my January E50 22 to 1 investment before he and McLaren threw away those last two races.
He could have stopped for a cup of tea in each event and still collected sufficient pints - oops, points.
I'm in London for some research next week. If he's not gone and I catch up with him, he'll be doing some premature yodelling...

brendan lynch, dublin,

Am I being completely cynical, isn't this just a tax dodge?

Craig, London,

Two reasons why Lewis should go to Spyker:

1. He cannot handle the pressure. All he needed to do to finish the job was to finish fourth in two races with a car that at worst can finish fourth. And HE BLEW IT!

2. He cannot remain calm if he is not ahead. He's made mistakes in Nurburgring, Turkey, China, Brazil, and was lucky with the rail in Monaco. He did a good job in Japan and Canada when he was first all the time. So if he moved to a bad team he would learn how it is to start in the back of the grid and get used to have cars ahead of him. This is how Fernando became a phenomenal driver in Minardi. And this is why Vettel will be a world champion when he gets a good car.

Pau, Barcelona, Spain

I have lived in Geneva for two and a half years now, and can say without a moment's hesitation that Lewis has made a shrewd decision.

He will find the privacy he seeks, and his quality of life (Geneva boasting the second highest in the world, after Zurich) will improve vastly. People won't harass him if they see him in the street - gltzy types are two a penny here, and the place was built around a tradition of discretion and respect for others. I cannot think of one reason why anyone would prefer that stroppy little self-important and deluded island we call home to the modesty and lucid commonsense way of life offered by Switzerland.

Welcome Lewis (and if you need someone to show you around, let me know!)

Ben, Geneva, Switzerland

I didn't notice poor Lewis worrying about interest in his private life when he was flogging his "autobiography".

Adrian, Bromley,

I couldn't agree with Lewis more, its not a hard decision. What would most people prefer? Crime or no crime? Yobs & hoodies or traditional values & respect? Hospitals that make you sicker or ones that make you healthy? Punitive tax or negotiable tax? Rain all year round or snowy winters & sunny summers? Not being able to step outside without harassment or being able to live your life as you choose? I could go on. Why shouldn't someone who is (nearly) at the top of their game enjoy the benefits that brings?

Mark , Zürich, Switzerland

I think LH and FA are planning going out, skiing, trecking, playing play station together,jajaja. Now they can have a barbecue sometimes in each house and invite RD and enjoy it like a big family. With the money he saves from the taxes he can take some driving lessons for next season.

Ruben, Asturias, spain

Can anyone tell me how far a "yodelling distance" is?

Alex, London,

To all those who are criticising Hamilton. Life is NOT a rehearsal, when your chance comes along the brave ones grab it with both hands and that is what he is doing. If anyone is to be criticised, it is the people who do not have the good manors to leave him alone when he is “off duty”. At the most, those who admire his efforts would be much more appreciated by Hamilton and for that matter every other public figure if they just smiled or nodded appreciation at the celebrity and not try to own them.

Richard, Oxford,

I have to agree with Mike Anthony. I've lived in Switzerland for almost 40 years now, and it and its people are lovely, lively and awake.
I wouldn't change it for the world - especially not for scruffy old England.

Ian, Zurich, Switzerland

I hear Heidi is thoroughly happy with having MS, KR and LH around. However, I also hear she badly wants to get rid of FA and would send him to Elias, providing he can find him some digs along Lewis Hamilton Way.

L. A. Dietz, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

One has to wonder whether he has actually seen any of those "black sheep" political posters that are springing up all over Switzerland. One has to wonder at someone with dark skin moving to a country currently putting out the unwelcome mat for others with less impressive bank balances.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

I wish Lewis Hamilton could be as fast starting his "charity program" as he is moving to Swiss to safe his money....

If you guys have the time to go to his web site you will find out that he is already talking about a charity program he has not started yet...

How can he be so miserable to sell us how nice guy he is when he not only has not starting it yet (the charity program) but also is moving to pay less taxes which are suppose to help poor english people?

Jacob, Madrid, Spain

Maybe Hamiltron hasn't read the manifesto of the leading political parties. Racial tolerance is not something the Swiss are known for - but I guess if you're loaded enough they don't really care. Switzerland - where money cabn buy racial equality!

Bill, London,

Nothing to do with the very low income tax then ??

EJ, London,

The tone of the article smacks of envy. Let's deride this other country for providing such great public services and healthy lifestyles along with safe and secure streets.

When will people wake up to the fact that the small minded prejudices can't work both ways? Why is it so great in the UK? with crime, taxes, appalling public services but yet so boring in Switzerland which looks like it has got so much right? The answer of course is that the perceptions are wrong and that Hamilton has made a very logical choice.

We should all be so lucky!

Richard, London, UK

As a country where nobody knows him I think Spain should be unbeatable. Even looks like Switzerland in Asturias.

Mirko , Bielefeld, Germany

To all of you whinging. Would you not do the same, if you had nothing at all keeping you here, especially if you were on the road week in week out for your job ? Come on, get a life and be honnest with yourselves. You are here paying you taxes either because you don't have the guts to start afresh somewhere else, or simply because you have no other choice. Just like me...

Mat Gwil, London, UK

if i was him i'd be doing the same thing....can anyone reading this honestly say that they would gladly give away more than 40% of their wage just to live in the country.....

it makes good sense to me.

Go Lewis!

john, derby, uk

Leave Lewis alone. Best thing we have had in F1 for many a year. Talented, charismatic, well spoken - what more could we want. What about all the rock stars etc who have left our shores and can only come back for a couple of months due to tax problems? There but for the grace of God etc. He is doing what he believes in and loves, if this brings him riches who are we to judge. If he had won the F1 World Championship the press et al would have been praising him to the limit so why try to drag him down now. The world is full of stories about useless people like the Beckhams who are has beens. It is about time we encouraged and praised people like Lewis who have made us proud. Couch potatoes get off your backsides and make something of your lives or stop moaning.

|Ann

Ann Limbert, Derby, Derbyshire

I wonder whether if the British government matched the Swiss cantons' flat tax deal for its wealthy foreigners, the rich and famous would "live" in the UK. The reality is he'll still live at least 180 allowable days in the UK, tick his "nondom box" and turn up for "work" at McClaren's HQ without getting his UK tax return. No one with half a brain can live full time in Switzerland and remain sane and nobody believes anyone actually does, bar the Swiss, live there more than a few weeks at a time. Just a piggy bank domicile. The fact that, naively, he felt the need to make up a "social" excuse to live en Suisse instead of just admitting he hates paying half his earnings over to Alistair Darling to waste, is touching evidence of his charming youth. Long may the exodus continue until the freeloading HM Government learns that it's not their own money.

Sterling Lichen, Hong Kong,

Good luck in your new life Lewis. I wish I could get out of this country. You bring a lot of pleasure to people and if you stay here the media will just attempt to find some way of knocking you down.

If you can avoid paying the swinging taxes here, it's not just income tax, it is all of the various national and local robbers that are after our money, good luck to you.
Pete

Peter Hodge, Skelmersdale, England

And to think we were thinking of setting up a campaign to have Six Hills Way in Stevenage renamed Lewis Hamilton Way!! Shame on you Lewis. Your biggest fan has now jumped ship!

Elias, Stevenage, UK

Once you’ve made it financially, of course you leave the country. Someone’s got to make room for all those Immigrants,

Mike, Berlin,

does anyone really give a monkeys?

if he wants to bail out, fine, we won't miss him. He choked, he didnt even win the world championship so why is it a big deal? You cant drive cars properly over there anyway so you know he's gonna be back pretty soon. The UK may be a rubbish dump but Switzerland is still and always will be dull, dull , dull.

phil, london, uk

This boy is unbeliable. How he can make up things. Mainly his purpose is to avoid english taxes. Poor rich boy.

charool64, Vitoria,

sorry, did you say lewis hamilton will move to switzerland to escape the attentions of the public, the media..... and the taxman?

jem, london, uk

so lewis is moving abroad to have more privacy is he.who does he think hes fooling? hes just another greedy sportsman who does not want to give anything back to the country that gave him his chance. good riddance and GOODBYE!

jeff elliott, catterick garrison n yorks, england

Mike Anthony - say what you want about the place, but the rich Swiss air has clearly replaced any ounce of a British sense of humour you may ever have had. Enjoy your perfect bus system and try to forget it was paid for by Nazi gold.

And no, I don't expect you to get that joke either.

chris, Worthing, England

Lets be honest here. It has everything to do with tax rather than
the spin of publicity concerns.If he wishes to drape himself in the union jack next season he should be prepared to make a financial contribution to the schools and hospitals of this country.

mark, ingatestone, essex

There you are. We Bitons and Spaniards yelling at each other about this two superpaid primme donne. If they feel the heat of the people, they flee to Swiss. And taking their taxes with them by the way.
I feel ripped off. You must be considered a national of the country you help to build and mantain. For Lewis and Fernando it's going to be Switzerland. The swiss anthem should be played during the box ceremonnies.
That's why I support Ferrari and whoever drives their cars. At least something goes to the italian government and very little to the people ( :-), joking)

Emilio, Madrid, Spain

Another sunshine patriot leaving his 'beloved' country for the love of money. Bye, Lewis.

Brian , Liverpool,

Cant say that I blame him, the U.K. taxes are disgusting not to mention the poor man being pestered everywhere he goes, fair play, and lets face it its a much nicer pace to be,
At least they dont have packs of savages raoming the streets every evening, so at least he can have a sfae and pleasant evening out.

angela bennett, warks, united kingdom

As a Brit living in Switzerland I find the tone of your article regarding Switzerland typically 'close-minded' and lacking in any understanding of what countries other than the UK have to offer. Regardless of why Hamilton wants to move to Switzerland I find the country and its people, friendly, fair, clean and above all ethical. It is a great place to live for my wife and my teenage children. The education system, tax system, health system and transport system all work!!

Mike Anthony, Basel, Switzerland

"Lewis Hamilton is going into hiding in the land of Heidi." sets the tone for the article.

Keith, Madrid, Spain