BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner has hit back at allegations that he is hypocritical for celebrating being British yet is based abroad for tax purposes.

Reigning formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton who has a reported wealth of around £68 has received large amounts of criticism for being based reportedly in Geneva and Monaco at times, with many questioning the legitimacy of his win, a slew of comments emerged on social networking sites addressing his tax exile status, following his success on the BBC awards programme last night.

However, the 30 year old two time F1 world champion hit back at these concerns, he said he pays tax in the UK “but I don’t earn all my money here”.

He told the Sunday Times Magazine “I race in 19 different countries, so I earn my money in 20 different places and I pay tax in several different places, and I pay a lot here as well.”

“I am contributing to the country and, not only that, I help to keep a team of more than 1,000 people employed.”