Hamilton apologizes to the Federation

Lewis Hamilton publicly apologized to the FIA and his fans for the serious mistake he made last week at the Australian Grand Prix.

Reminder of the facts: Last weekend during the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2009 season, the British driver slowed down under the safety car to let Jarno Trulli pass. Once the maneuver was completed, Hamilton overtook the Italian driver, believing he had the right to reclaim his position. After the race, it was Jarno Trulli who was disqualified, with the FIA stewards judging Trulli as the sole guilty party.

Hamilton, heard as a simple witness by the FIA, then revealed the existence of radio communication between his team and himself during the incident. After listening, the track stewards changed their stance. The facts were clear, Hamilton had received permission to overtake the Toyota and was therefore disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix.

According to the FIA, Hamilton, McLaren, and particularly Dave Ryan, the Sporting Director, deliberately misled the initial ruling, not seeking to restore the truth with Trulli.

According to Hamilton, it was Dave Ryan himself who advised not to talk to the FIA, simply out of fear of sanction. Martin Whitmarsh, in agreement with the FIA, then decided to suspend Ryan from his duties.

« I had a great race in Melbourne. As soon as I got out of the car, I was summoned, shown the footage on television, and I told them how it happened. » Declares Hamilton during the press conference this Friday in Sepang.

« Of course, I did not report the communication with my pit, as my team leader had advised me. I apologize to the stewards and the FIA for wasting their time, and I am truly sorry for the situation: on one hand for the team, but also for Dave [Ryan], who has been with the team for a long time, he’s a nice person, and I don’t think it was his intention. »

« I also want to apologize to my fans and everyone who has been following me for three years. I am not a liar, nor a dishonest person. I am simply a member of a team. »

« This will not happen again! » continued Hamilton, amid some applause. The Englishman also specified that he was the only one, along with Ryan, who was aware of the story and had hidden facts from the FIA…

This is not the first time Hamilton has been caught lying to the FIA. The situation already occurred in 2007, during the Hungarian Grand Prix, and in 2008, during the Japan weekend. McLaren and Mercedes reportedly met today in an extraordinary council in Germany to close the case. Other individuals might be excluded from the team. Other rumors are already imagining Mercedes leaving Formula 1.