Lewis Hamilton was fined $500 in a Melbourne court on Tuesday for performing a burnout after the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year.
Police spotted the 2008 Formula One world champion conducting the illegal manoeuvre as he was leaving the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in March and impounded his borrowed 2010 E3 Mercedes.
He was charged with 'intentionally losing control of a vehicle' and issued a guilty plea at the hearing, although Hamilton was not present in court.
"This isn't about somebody's character, this is about somebody in a responsible position behaving like a hoon," said Magistrate Clive Alsop when issuing the fine.
"It doesn't show the general application of the level of responsibility and maturity that he must use every day on the race track," Alsop said.
Hamilton's defence counsel, Sandip Mukerjea, requested a lenient sentence on the grounds that the McLaren driver pleaded guilty immediately after the incident, accepted responsibility and showed regret.
"He is a man who understands and appreciates his position as a role model for young people," said Mukerjea.
Hamilton also avoided a criminal conviction, something that would have made his frequent international travel problematic.
"I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police," said Hamilton in a statement after the incident.
"What I did was silly and I want to apologise for it."
Hamilton is currently second behind Mark Webber in the Formula One world championship driver's standings. The championship resumes on August 27 with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.