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[Jensonb]

An interesting article, but one which is also self-contradictory in one key point: was Hamilton complicit in withholding the information, or did he just follow like a lamb?

It seems like nobody's willing to say one way or the other for definite.

[G - F O R C E]

One Point Separates A Champ From A Cheat
Saturday 4th April 2009

One point was all that mattered in Lewis Hamilton's promotion from fourth to third in the Australian GP results, and one point was all that separated the Champ from being branded a 'cheat' in his apology.


The Hamilton/Jarno Trulli saga from the Australian GP has made headlines throughout the world as the Brit denied slowing down to let Trulli through and up into third place. And as a result of him 'deliberately misleading' the Melbourne stewards, Hamilton gained a point and Trulli lost six.


However, Trulli's loss of six points, which was subsequently overturned, now seems nothing compared to Hamilton's loss of reputation after it emerged that the defending World Champion had 'mislead' the stewards as McLaren's own radio communication proved beyond any doubt that he had slowed down and let Trulli through.


But it's the McLaren driver's apology that most irks.


"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," Hamilton said in Malaysia on Friday.


"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."


A simple translation of all that: "I'm sorry but Dave made me do it."


Talk about throwing Dave on the sword. And talk about not taking responsibility for one's own actions.


Responsibility is a hallmark of any great Champion and any great human being. And Hamilton has refused to take it.


Did Dave hold a gun to his head? Did Dave threaten to fire him if he didn't "withhold information"? Did Dave speak for him?


Hamilton is a big boy. He's 24 years old and I'm sure his parents have taught him right from wrong. Truth from lies. Responsibility from passing the buck. Sadly he showed none of those traits on Friday afternoon.


Like a child that breaks a window while playing with a ball in the garden and blames everyone but himself gets an even bigger punishment from his parents, Hamilton deserves the same from the FIA.


Motorsport's governing body has acknowledged his apology and even vaguely commended him for it, saying "We recognise Lewis' efforts to set the record straight. It would appear he was put in an impossible position.'


But really did he apologise? No, he passed the buck. And that is the one point that separates a Champion from someone who deliberately misleads. And who knows, maybe the handful he cost himself in Australia will be the handful that cost him this year's World title.


Michelle Foster

[Trigger]

Do we really need yet another thread on this ?

[racechick]

No we dont, its all been said. Im merging this with the thread "Hamilton disqualified from Australian GP

[Jensonb]

Do we really need yet another thread on this ?

Probably not, but it's a good article.

Moderating team! Use your Merging Powers!

Edit: Oh...That was fast racechick

[racechick]

Do we really need yet another thread on this ?

Probably not, but it's a good article.

Moderating team! Use your Merging Powers!

Edit: Oh...That was fast racechick

[Trigger]

hahaha speedy work racechick....

Now my post makes me look a total knob as it doesnt fit.

But leave it in..

[Trigger]

Do we really need yet another thread on this ?

Probably not, but it's a good article.

Moderating team! Use your Merging Powers!

Edit: Oh...That was fast racechick

yes agreed good article, but just meant shoulda gone with this thread.... so ty racechick

[deMuRe]

They just went the wrong way about it.

And then they LIED about it

Your euphemisms are simply annoying - just say it once: they lied, they cheated.

Yes they did to the first and by that action took points from an innocent party. yes. Wrong! BUT THEY DID IT TO REGAIN WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS!!!
They did not do it to gain what was not righytfully theirs. A big difference between this and past actions by others , which have definately been done to gain an unfair advantage over others.

Getting Trulli disqualified was rightfully theirs?

FFS...

I hope they get banned for the rest of the season, how many more times do they have to bring the sport into disrepute?

[Gaz]

They just went the wrong way about it.

And then they LIED about it

Your euphemisms are simply annoying - just say it once: they lied, they cheated.

Yes they did to the first and by that action took points from an innocent party. yes. Wrong! BUT THEY DID IT TO REGAIN WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS!!!
They did not do it to gain what was not righytfully theirs. A big difference between this and past actions by others , which have definately been done to gain an unfair advantage over others.

Getting Trulli disqualified was rightfully theirs?

FFS...

I hope they get banned for the rest of the season, how many more times do they have to bring the sport into disrepute?

dunno man i heard they were trying to match schumacher.

[deMuRe]

One Point Separates A Champ From A Cheat
Saturday 4th April 2009

One point was all that mattered in Lewis Hamilton's promotion from fourth to third in the Australian GP results, and one point was all that separated the Champ from being branded a 'cheat' in his apology.


The Hamilton/Jarno Trulli saga from the Australian GP has made headlines throughout the world as the Brit denied slowing down to let Trulli through and up into third place. And as a result of him 'deliberately misleading' the Melbourne stewards, Hamilton gained a point and Trulli lost six.


However, Trulli's loss of six points, which was subsequently overturned, now seems nothing compared to Hamilton's loss of reputation after it emerged that the defending World Champion had 'mislead' the stewards as McLaren's own radio communication proved beyond any doubt that he had slowed down and let Trulli through.


But it's the McLaren driver's apology that most irks.


"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," Hamilton said in Malaysia on Friday.


"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."


A simple translation of all that: "I'm sorry but Dave made me do it."


Talk about throwing Dave on the sword. And talk about not taking responsibility for one's own actions.


Responsibility is a hallmark of any great Champion and any great human being. And Hamilton has refused to take it.


Did Dave hold a gun to his head? Did Dave threaten to fire him if he didn't "withhold information"? Did Dave speak for him?


Hamilton is a big boy. He's 24 years old and I'm sure his parents have taught him right from wrong. Truth from lies. Responsibility from passing the buck. Sadly he showed none of those traits on Friday afternoon.


Like a child that breaks a window while playing with a ball in the garden and blames everyone but himself gets an even bigger punishment from his parents, Hamilton deserves the same from the FIA.


Motorsport's governing body has acknowledged his apology and even vaguely commended him for it, saying "We recognise Lewis' efforts to set the record straight. It would appear he was put in an impossible position.'


But really did he apologise? No, he passed the buck. And that is the one point that separates a Champion from someone who deliberately misleads. And who knows, maybe the handful he cost himself in Australia will be the handful that cost him this year's World title.


Michelle Foster

[racechick]

Getting Trulli disqualified was rightfully theirs?

No 3rd place was. Before all the screw ups.

[Jensonb]

They just went the wrong way about it.

And then they LIED about it

Your euphemisms are simply annoying - just say it once: they lied, they cheated.

Yes they did to the first and by that action took points from an innocent party. yes. Wrong! BUT THEY DID IT TO REGAIN WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS!!!
They did not do it to gain what was not righytfully theirs. A big difference between this and past actions by others , which have definately been done to gain an unfair advantage over others.

Getting Trulli disqualified was rightfully theirs?

FFS...

I hope they get banned for the rest of the season, how many more times do they have to bring the sport into disrepute?

That seems a bit harsh, and I think they're guilty as sin. 3 Races tops, and I'd include Australia in that. Basically the same punishment BAR got for being the team caught with the trick fuel system.

[McLaren Fan]

A decent article, and the author is not the only who thinks the same. The Times ran a similar article today.

[deMuRe]

Getting Trulli disqualified was rightfully theirs?

No 3rd place was. Before all the screw ups.

To achieve this they got Trulli disqualified and didn't fess up, I hope the FIA throws the book at them...