British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has escaped with a fine after his motoring skills landed him in trouble in Australia.

The 25 year old was arrested in March ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne after police caught him performing a series of stunts on a public road.

Hamilton, whose luxury car was impounded after the incident, entered a guilty plea through his lawyer at a court Down Under on Tuesday, admitting one count of driving a vehicle causing loss of traction.

Magistrate Clive Alsop, who was overseeing the case, told the court Hamilton abused his position of influence by "behaving like a hoon (young loutish driver)" but acknowledged the star's letter of apology in which he called the incident a "momentary lapse of judgment".

The star, who earns an estimated $30 million a year, was handed a $432 fine.