In a light-hearted interview with lad's mag Maxim, Lewis Hamilton's partner Nicole Sherzinger, the Hawaiian pop-singer, claimed that away from the track both her and the McLaren can be a little reckless when driving on public roads.

Asked how fast Lewis has driven her, the Pussycat Dolls singer and Dancing With the Stars winner said: "Let’s just say that neither of us would be allowed near a car again if we had been pulled over. It was in Switzerland".

In the wake of Hamilton's spot of bother as he left the Melbourne circuit earlier this year, and recent comments made by FIA President Jean Todt, whereby the Frenchman suggested that (F1) drivers should be sanctioned in the championship for behaving badly on public roads, Sherzinger's comments could be somewhat damaging at a time when the McLaren driver heads the championship.

Asked, how Hamilton feels when she's driving, Sherzinger said: "He’s more afraid when he’s with me and I’m driving than he is during a race. He gives me pointers, but at the end of the day he’s like, 'Babe, you’re driving with your knees!' I’m doing my makeup, changing the radio... I guess it’s appropriate that I just did a song with Slash and Alice Cooper called 'Baby Can’t Drive'.”

However, contacted by Pitpass, the Woking team was only too happy to put the remark in context, keen to ensure that the comments were taken in the same context as they were made, tongue in cheek.

"The Interview for Maxim was light-hearted and fun and not literal as it appeared on paper," said Sherzinger. "I was only kidding. Lewis has and always drives safely and within limits."

"I'm always teasing Nicole about her driving, and she likes to do the same to me in return," added Hamilton. "But, actually, we're both very careful drivers and we aren't into speeding on public roads. I've learned my lesson, and supporting FIA Foundation road safety initiatives is very important to me."

Pitpass can confirm that neither Hamilton or Sherzinger - seen here with their 'Tufty Club - Butter Wouldn't Melt In My Mouth Award' - were using their Blackberrys at the wheel of a car when they made these comments.