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[Juliet P]

I agree with Hammy, when I first heard the news I was hugely disappointed that it appeared that Lewis had lied - he has his faults, but I didn't think he was capable of that.

But having listened to the radio conversation and Martin Whitmarsh's explanation, it is quite clearly the team's fault. Their current argument that the FIA had the transcripts, therefore they didn't have to mention in front of the stewards that Hamilton had been asked by the team to let Trulli through, is, quite frankly, piss-poor. Lewis being asked to give the place back was obviously a fact that was material and relevant to the case and I can't think of one good (ie. not malicious) reason why Mclaren would not reveal it.

Very badly done by the team

Juliet

[Denthúl]

I agree with Hammy, when I first heard the news I was hugely disappointed that it appeared that Lewis had lied - he has his faults, but I didn't think he was capable of that.

But having listened to the radio conversation and Martin Whitmarsh's explanation, it is quite clearly the team's fault. Their current argument that the FIA had the transcripts, therefore they didn't have to mention in front of the stewards that Hamilton had been asked by the team to let Trulli through, is, quite frankly, piss-poor. Lewis being asked to give the place back was obviously a fact that was material and relevant to the case and I can't think of one good (ie. not malicious) reason why Mclaren would not reveal it.

Very badly done by the team

Juliet

What that doesn't really consider is Lewis' failure to bring it up. Yes, the team may have omitted such information, but Lewis was there as well. You can't lay all of the blame on the team alone.

[TheOak]

It seems from the team Principal that the team was not forth coming with all the information not Hamilton.

So all you tall poppy bashers have a look at the FIA script and motives

Once again:
"During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the Stewards and the Race Director questioned Lewis Hamilton and his Team Manager David Ryan specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake. Both the driver and the Team Manager stated that no such instruction had been given. The Race Director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted that he had not done so.

They didn't mislead, omit, not bring up or do any of that mildly stated crap. They were asked specific questions to which they lied to. End of story.

[AKR]

I don't see how putting 'f***ing' before Slav makes bud a racist. It's only an intensifier.

It makes it a racist statement. It is not just an intensifier, it is insulting and offensive.

Generally, if someone arguing with you calls you a f***ing McLaren fan, this is not a positive statement. Put a racial grouping after the f***ing and it becomes a racist statement.

it was an intensifier! that was my intentions sorry for you

i said youre a f***ing Slav not an Italian... putting the intensity on being a Slav and not an Italian.

so AGAIN will you just STFU and if you have further issues please use the PM function if you want to take this off topic after Ewan has publicly stated to keep it ontopic after he unlocked it!

I have read too much of this already and if I may I would like to clear this up and stay only on topic. Ferrarifan I appreciate you sticking up for me. I agree putting the f word in front of Slavic and any racial group or nationality can generally perceived as racist. However in bud's remark his statement was not racist but only an intensifier to emphasize the fact that I am a Slavic and not Italian which by hertiage is actually correct. Had he said something like you are a dirty f***ing Slav, then that without a doubt would be racist. Also it is true that his GF is Polish in heritage thus a Slav so I do not believe he would make any such racial comments. I hope that clears it up for everybody. Now lets stay on topic please.

[AKR]

So Hamilton got disqualified and McLaren are not going to appeal it. What next? Excluding McLaren for the whole season wont happen. There are already not enough teams and cars on the grid. Maybe a 2 race suspension. Possible but unlikely. Maybe just a fine for Lewis and his team and then back to nornal racing business as usual.

[texasmr2]

I don't see how putting 'f***ing' before Slav makes bud a racist. It's only an intensifier.

It makes it a racist statement. It is not just an intensifier, it is insulting and offensive.

Generally, if someone arguing with you calls you a f***ing McLaren fan, this is not a positive statement. Put a racial grouping after the f***ing and it becomes a racist statement.

it was an intensifier! that was my intentions sorry for you

i said youre a f***ing Slav not an Italian... putting the intensity on being a Slav and not an Italian.

so AGAIN will you just STFU and if you have further issues please use the PM function if you want to take this off topic after Ewan has publicly stated to keep it ontopic after he unlocked it!

I have read too much of this already and if I may I would like to clear this up and stay only on topic. Ferrarifan I appreciate you sticking up for me. I agree putting the f word in front of Slavic and any racial group or nationality can generally perceived as racist. However in bud's remark his statement was not racist but only an intensifier to emphasize the fact that I am a Slavic and not Italian which by hertiage is actually correct. Had he said something like you are a dirty f***ing Slav, then that without a doubt would be racist. Also it is true that his GF is Polish in heritage thus a Slav so I do not believe he would make any such racial comments. I hope that clears it up for everybody. Now lets stay on topic please.

Come on people stick to the damn topic of the thread, what is so hard about that??

[TheOak]

So Hamilton got disqualified and McLaren are not going to appeal it. What next? Excluding McLaren for the whole season wont happen. There are already not enough teams and cars on the grid. Maybe a 2 race suspension. Possible but unlikely. Maybe just a fine for Lewis and his team and then back to nornal racing business as usual.

Yea, no one wants to see the grid get any smaller. I'm hoping a big fine for Lewis and max 1-2 race ban. Maybe Pedro can race in the meantime.

[McLaren Fan]

I was just about to shame Lewis Hamilton, but I think it's the team's fault. I read the transcript. Lewis Hamilton did not deliberately cheat. He probably deserves a penalty. But the guy's gutted.

Hamilton had no idea what to do in this situation. He's relied on the team to give him information about what to do. He thought he had overtaken the Toyota under Yellow Flags. The team told him to give the position back to Jarno, and then changed their mind. But Lewis had already obeyed the team's first command.

The team assured him that they were talking to the race director. They obviously didn't. So Lewis was betrayed by his team in this situation. They lied by reassuring him that they were talking to the race director, just to shut Lewis up.

I'm not supporting McLaren this Year, I'm supporting Red Bull. I just haven't worked out how to change my signature yet. I'm going for Vettel this year.

But, I will stand up for Lewis and say he is no cheat.

Somebody hasn't read the full story.

And why is it people are separating Hamilton from McLaren as a whole? Hamilton is employed by McLaren. He is a part of the team as well.

[Denthúl]

I was just about to shame Lewis Hamilton, but I think it's the team's fault. I read the transcript. Lewis Hamilton did not deliberately cheat. He probably deserves a penalty. But the guy's gutted.

Hamilton had no idea what to do in this situation. He's relied on the team to give him information about what to do. He thought he had overtaken the Toyota under Yellow Flags. The team told him to give the position back to Jarno, and then changed their mind. But Lewis had already obeyed the team's first command.

The team assured him that they were talking to the race director. They obviously didn't. So Lewis was betrayed by his team in this situation. They lied by reassuring him that they were talking to the race director, just to shut Lewis up.

I'm not supporting McLaren this Year, I'm supporting Red Bull. I just haven't worked out how to change my signature yet. I'm going for Vettel this year.

But, I will stand up for Lewis and say he is no cheat.

Somebody hasn't read the full story.

And why is it people are separating Hamilton from McLaren as a whole? Hamilton is employed by McLaren. He is a part of the team as well.

Indeed. And they acted as a team, too. Also, shifting all of the blame on to Dave Ryan? These comments are a little unfair from Hamilton. He did not have to do as he was instructed. He made the choice. And the wrong one.

Hamilton apologises for 'huge mistake'

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Friday, April 3rd 2009, 10:12 GMT


Lewis Hamilton has apologised to the FIA stewards and to his fans after what he labelled as a 'huge mistake' following the Australian Grand Prix.

The Briton was disqualified from the Melbourne race after the stewards deemed he and his McLaren team had lied following an incident with Toyota driver Jarno Trulli.

The incident had led to McLaren suspending sporting director David Ryan, who the team said was responsible for the misleading the stewards.

Hamilton said on Friday that he had no intention to lie to the stewards, and offered an apology to them, to the fans and to the media.

The world champion, who admitted the incident had taken a toll of him, also vowed to never let something like that happen again.

"In Melbourne, I had a great race. As soon as I got out the car I had the television interviews at the back of the garage, and straight away I gave them a good account of what happening during the race," Hamilton told a news conference.

"Straight after that we were requested by the stewards, and while waiting for the stewards I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did.

"I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time and for making them look silly. I am very, very sorry for the situation: for my team, for Dave because he has been a good member of the team for many years, and whilst I don't think it was his intention or...he is a good guy.

"I went into the meeting, I had no intention of...I just wanted to tell the story and say what happened. I was misled and that is the way it went.

"I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans who have believed in me, who have supported me for years, who I showed who I am for the past three years, and it is who I am. I am not a liar. I am not a dishonest person. I am a team player.

"Every time I have been informed to do something I have done it. This time I realise it was a huge mistake and I am learning from it. It has taken a huge toll on me.

"I apologise to you guys, I didn't speak to you yesterday, but there was a lot of take in and a lot to deal with. I am here to apologise to everyone and I assure you it won't happen again."

[EwanM]

What do you make of Dave Ryan's part in all of this. I'm shocked he has been suspended.
Scapegoat? Or serious perputrator?

[Denthúl]

What do you make of Dave Ryan's part in all of this. I'm shocked he has been suspended.
Scapegoat? Or serious perputrator?

He may well have told Lewis to withold information, and as such would deserve punishment. But they're making it look as if Dave Ryan was the only one responsible for the things that went on in the stewards' office. Perhaps an attempt at making Lewis look less like the bad person?

[McLaren Fan]

McLaren have this idea whereby the team should accept all the blame for all incidents as some mechanism for protecting the drivers, saying as they are the ones who actually have to get the results on the track. Although I can see the logic behind this, it is getting very tiresome. Basically, employees of thirty-five and twenty years are taking the fall for actions in which Hamilton was involved too. His apology stinks to high heaven.

[EwanM]

Hamilton makes sure the world knows he’s sorry
April 3, 2009 by James Allen

Things are moving so fast here in Sepang it makes your head spin. Lewis Hamilton has just made an appearance in the media centre and given what has to be the most frank and open admission of guilt and apology we have seen in this sport.

He sat alone on the stage and spoke for a little over ten minutes , his voice cracking at times, his body language full of anguish and regret.


“”I went into the meeting wanting to tell the story and I was misled. I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information and that’s what I did. I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time. I’m very sorry for the situation. Sorry to all my fans, who have believed in me. Who I’ve showed you I am the past three years is who I am, I’m not a liar, I’m not a dishonest person, I’m a team player and every time I’ve been informed to do something I’ve done it. This time I realise it’s a huge mistake and I’m learning from it. It’s taken a huge toll on me.

“This is the worst thing I’ve experienced in my life and that’s why I’m here, because it’s right for me as a human being and as a man to stand up here in front of you all and tel you exactly what went on and say how sorry I am. I’m sorry to the team, to my family for the embarrassment.

I’m sure that the FIA will act accordingly and in the right way.”

He also said that Trulli had driven a great race and that “it wasn’t my intention to get him a penalty.”

Actually by making such a frank admission, it’s likely that he will escape a ban or even a suspended ban. The damage to his reputation and the loss of the result in Australia are likely to be deemed punishment enough.

The FIA’s Alan Donnelly was at the back of the room listening and the event was televised by FOM’s TV crew, so it was a really public affair.

Hamilton has been criticised in the past for not putting his hands up and saying ’sorry’ often enough. He couldn’t avoid it on this occasion.

The room was full of media from all around the world, with the Fleet St boys on the front row. At the end there was a light round of applause from some journalists, as Hamilton walked from the room, his shoulders sagging.

How the public will view him now, only time will tell, but it’s been a savagely bad start to the season for Hamilton, for McLaren and for new team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

Other teams are surprised that McLaren has allowed this to come down to individuals, that they have not stuck together as a team. By singling out Ryan, they have acted in a way which is different from the team spirit of McLaren in the past.

[EwanM]

Q & A with Lewis Hamilton

By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 3rd 2009, 10:33 GMT


Lewis Hamilton has been at the centre of a controversy since the Australian Grand Prix, where the McLaren driver and sporting director Dave Ryan faced the FIA stewards to explain an incident with Jarno Trulli during the race.

Over the week, the FIA revealed both men had misled the stewards, leading to Hamilton's disqualification from the event and to heavy criticism in the British media over his antics.

On Friday at Sepang, Hamilton faced the media to offer an apology and to give his view on the whole incident.

Lewis Hamilton: In Melbourne, I had a great race. As soon as I got out the car I had the television interviews at the back of the garage, and straight away I gave them a good account of what happened during the race. Straight after that we were requested by the stewards, and while waiting for the stewards I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did.

I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time and for making them look silly. I am very, very sorry for the situation: for my team, for Dave because he has been a good member of the team for many years, and whilst I don't think it was his intention or...he is a good guy.

I went into the meeting, I had no intention of...I just wanted to tell the story and say what happened. I was misled and that is the way it went. I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans who have believed in me, who have supported me for years, who I showed who I am for the past three years, and it is who I am. I am not a liar. I am not a dishonest person. I am a team player.

Every time I have been informed to do something I have done it. This time I realise it was a huge mistake and I am learning from it. It has taken a huge toll on me. I apologise to you guys, I didn't speak to you yesterday, but there was a lot of take in and a lot to deal with. I am here to apologise to everyone and I assure you it won't happen again.

Q. How do you feel about yourself? Do you feel comfortable with yourself about what you have done?

LH: No. This is why I am here. This is why I am sitting here in front of you. This is not an easy thing for anyone to do. To put their hand up, and step back and realise they are in the wrong. But the fact is I was in the wrong. I feel I owe it to my fans and I owe it to my people to let them know. But like I said, I was misled. It is easy to be misled sometimes, and I realise that that is the situation and that is why I am here.

Q. You say you were misled. Can I ask, did you talk to Dave Ryan before you went into the stewards and say, that doesn't stack up with what I have just said or what I believe? And how difficult was it for you to go in knowing that what you were saying was misleading?

LH: The thing is we were rushed. I was still in my suit, and we went straight up. Actually when I came up from the garage, we went straight up the pitlane and we went straight there, and while we were waiting for Jarno to come out, I was instructed.

I honestly acted as a team member. If the team have asked me to do something I have generally done it. I didn't have time to think about it, to think about what I was going to do. I went in and I did it, and I felt awkward. I felt very uncomfortable. I think the stewards could see that, and I guess that is why I am in this position.

To refer to the guy before's question - I've never felt so bad. Try and put yourself in my position and understand that, like I said, I am not a liar. I have not gone through my life being a liar or dishonest. And so for people to say I am dishonest and for the world to think that....what can I say?

Q. You have said it was a matter between you and Dave Ryan. Was anyone else at McLaren involved in the planning for the decision, or was it only you two?

LH: No. It was just me and Dave.

Q. There was nothing wrong with what you did on the circuit. There was nothing wrong with the radio conversation itself. Did you not ask yourself why the hell they [the team] wanted to present this version, and what was the target out of it?

LH: Like I said, I was literally walking in so I didn't have time to really think about it. But for sure afterwards I wasn't completely sure why. We hadn't done anything wrong, we were just going in there to give account of what happened - regardless of if I had third or fourth. Jarno did a fantastic race and I had no need and no intention of giving him the penalty. That was not my aim. That is not something I do. I earn my points and my positions through hard work, and that is not the way I think.

Q. Have you apologised to Jarno, and was it you who pressured the team to sack Ryan [who has been suspended]?

LH: That second part of the question is nothing to do with me. Dave is a great guy and he has worked with the team for many years. He is feeling it just as much as the whole team. I haven't had the chance to speak to Jarno. I did actually see him before we went into the meeting and I said sorry for the situation. But…

Q. When Jarno went off and you passed him correctly, because he was off the track, why was there was any decision at all about letting him back in front? Why didn't you just stay there? Why was there any radio communication?

LH: When the safety car comes out, the team tell you time and time again, no overtaking under yellow flags. So while that has been drummed into you, you are dealing with everything that has been going on.

Jarno went off the track and clearly I went by. I tried to avoid going by, but I went by. Whilst I was sure in my mind that this is not my fault I have gone by him, I had to be sure. I worked this hard to get from dead last on the grid to fourth place, I was sitting in third now and I didn't want to be penalised. I didn't want the hard work to go out the window by getting a penalty, so I had to make sure. It is better to be safe and sound so I asked time and time again.

Q. Is this the worst thing you've ever had to do. And do you fear FIA retribution for the team, which a lot of people have speculated on? The FIA has said it is possible there could be repercussions

LH: For me, the situation is definitely the worst thing I've experienced in my life. That is why I am here. It is right for me as a human being and as a man to stand in front of you all and tell you exactly what went on and put up my hands. I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I'm sorry to my team and my family for the embarrassment. It is a very, very embarrassing situation.

I am sure the FIA will act accordingly and in the right way. I don't know what else is going to happen in the future. For me now, I have to focus on the race and try to move forward from this, learn from it and grow.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74203

[EwanM]

Now, I expect a bunch of Lewis's fans to come out and say "he's apologised so leave him alone".
I pose this question: Hasn't he let you down? He's not as squeaky clean as some users protray him as?

However, the issue of Hamilton's integrity should be put on ice. He's admitted he is sorry and it should be left at that.