Hamilton warns he could leave UK

Hamilton has won three of his first 11 Grand Prix

Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton says he could leave Britain because of intrusive media attention.

"Every time I go to London, cameras appear from God knows where," he said ahead of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix.

"I'm definitely contemplating living outside the UK. I've always dreamt of living in London but it's becoming more and more difficult.

"Pressure on the track doesn't get to me, I'm able to manage it, but in your personal life it affects you."

If I can't live a normal life and enjoy my life without being spread across the tabloids... we'll just have to wait and see Lewis Hamilton

Switzerland, home to his Spanish McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher, is one possible destination.

"I can see from the experience of Fernando what can happen," Hamilton continued.

"He's so big in Spain, he can't stay there because he can't go anywhere and live a normal life. I thought that wouldn't be the case in the UK."

The 22-year-old would not be the first driver to leave Britain, with high taxes another consideration.

Nigel Mansell lived in the Isle of Man during his time in Formula One, while David Coulthard currently calls Monaco home.

Hamilton complained that he was besieged by photographers during his recent holiday in the south of France.

"My whole holiday was in the papers. I was trying to relax, but I couldn't swim, because the cameras were waiting to get 10,000 euros for the pictures," he said.

"If I can't live a normal life and enjoy my life without being spread across the tabloids... we'll just have to wait and see. It's down to the media, really."