F1 Driver. Lewis Hamilton aka Pinocchio

[Oracle]

What a colorful F1 season...

‘Liar’ Lewis disqualified from Australian GP
David Smith
02.04.09 Look here too
Formula One stages another sorry farce

Lewis Hamilton has been disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix after the world champion and McLaren were effectively accused of lying by race officials.

And after stripping Hamilton of third place, the FIA warned the driver and his team they could face further punishment.

Hamilton and McLaren were said to have given “deliberately misleading” evidence to stewards in Melbourne who were investigating why Toyota's Jarno Trulli overtook the Briton while running behind the safety car, which is against the regulations.

After new evidence was considered by a special meeting of stewards in Sepang ahead of Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, it was decided to exclude Hamilton from the Australian race's results.

McLaren lost their points for the constructors' championship and Trulli was restored to third place, behind Brawn GP's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

Trulli said: “I just wanted justice, and I am happy I got it. I have always been honest and it has paid off.”

Hamilton fled to his hotel without commenting but team principal Martin Whitmarsh said McLaren would not appeal and admitted: “We made a mistake. Experience has told us you've got to accept these decisions. These things come along, and you have to build on your concentration for races to come.”

The controversy surrounded the climax to the race when Trulli careered onto the grass, allowing Hamilton to legally overtake as the Italian had lost control. The McLaren driver is understood to have told stewards that, after Trulli had left the track, he momentarily moved off the racing line because he was distracted by a reading in his cockpit.

It was then that Trulli, believing the slowing McLaren had a mechanical problem, retook third place, which earned him a 25-second penalty which demoted him to 12th.

However, a study of previously unheard McLaren radio transmissions indicate that Hamilton was, in fact, ordered to slow and let Trulli pass — contradicting what the world champion is reported to have told the stewards.

Also, Hamilton is said to have told SpeedTV: “I was told to let him back past, but I mean . . . I don't know if that's the regulations, and if it isn't, then I should have really had third.”
A statement issued by the FIA said: “The stewards, having considered the new elements presented to them, consider that Lewis Hamilton and McLaren acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing misleading evidence deliberately.”

But Whitmarsh insisted: “There is no implication that Lewis lied to the stewards. As I understand, there is a belief that the team was not explicit enough in the content of the radio communications to the stewards.

“What they believe is that the omission of the information about the radio communication between the team was withheld, and that is what they believe was misleading. At the time, the team asked race control several times about the re-pass but they were too busy to answer so we felt the decision in the aftermath was fair.
“I think it's a regrettable day. It certainly wasn't a deliberate attempt (to mislead the stewards).”

However the FIA have said that they “could not rule out further action at this stage,” although any further action would be decided by the world motor sport council.




http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23670324-details/Liar+Lewis+disqualified+from+Australian+GP/article.do?expand=true

[legion]

I seem to recall Massa lying to race officials last season about almost hitting another car in the pits and nothing was done about the actual lying. (Though he did get a fine instead of the time-penalty the rules mandate.)

It should be clear that the FIA is trying to drive McLaren from the sport.

It should also be clear that this was done so that McLaren didn't end the first race with points when Ferrari got none.

The double-standards are horrendous.

[ErVikingo]

I gather that Hamilton is looking for a job in politics now There will be wakes following this.... the McLaren boys better get their anal condoms ready.

Lewis Hamilton gave a solo press conference in Malaysia on Friday afternoon to apologise to the world for his role in deceiving the race stewards in Melbourne.

ITV.com/F1 columnist James Allen was there and gives his reaction here.


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 10 minutes, his voice cracking at times, his body language full of anguish and regret.

“When I went into the [stewards’] meeting…I just wanted to tell the story, say what happened,” he said.

“Whilst waiting for the stewards 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 would like to say a big sorry to all my fans who have believed in me and supported me for years.

“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’ve realised that it was a huge mistake, and I’m learning from it. It’s taken a huge toll on me.”
Hamilton and Ryan have been in the stewards’ room together on many occasions over the past two years and the only thing we didn’t get the chance to ask is whether this is the first time Ryan ‘instructed’ Hamilton to lie.

I’m sure that the FIA will consider this when the World Council look at the situation.

Actually by making such a frank admission, it’s likely that Lewis 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 Street 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 have 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.

[Oh Haha]

That was certainly strange, even for F1. I like LH, based on what I see on the tube. He seems like a genuine nice guy.

It does seem like throwing the team manager under the bus might cause JUST a little bit of tension for the team.

I just wonder if the script was written before he had the conference.


Whay would the FIA want to get rid of McLaren, though?

I'm a Kimi fan since his early days so I kind of hope for Ferrari at each race but I really don't get/understand the folks that claim the FIA favors Ferrari. I probably don't follow the sport as intensely as others and that may be why I don't understand.

[imcarthur]

Hamilton's team player remarks & the 'fact' that he followed team orders just might fix this for him. It might be his chance to seriously start talking to the boys in red quietly - there were already rumors. If he is humble enough & good on the race track for a while, he can spin this & blame it all on the McLaren culture.

Ian

[Noney]

Press conference apology or not, this whole thing is the biggest load of crap to come down the pike in a very long time. This has nothing to do with McLaren or Toyota and everything to do with inept, corrupt and otherwise incompetent race officials and stewards. What we have just witnessed is the FIA and Formula 1 telling the teams and the world that the rules don't count, but radio chatter does. The rules already in place before the start of the race stated, I believe, that Trulli had the right, following his off-track excursion, to rejoin the race in front of Hamilton, which he did. Trulli finished in third place and was given the podium position, which he deserved.

Case closed.

Why was there an "investigation"? Why wasn't this situation dealt with during the race? Why did Hamilton have to be interviewed? Why was he ever given third place to begin with? What was race control doing while this was going on? Why couldn't an immediate verdict be given during the race?

The officials flat out blew it during the race (or were "encouraged" to look into the matter a day later depending on who you believe). Why was Hamilton even interviewed? Who cares what he says -- rules are rules and the ones that were on the books at the start of the race were followed and the proper outcome was achieved. So now what.... you play back a radio exchange between Button and Brawn where Jenson says he has a 2 foot schlong and he gets disqualified? So now the new rule is, "Lie to your mommy and get disqualified..."?

This crap of deciding the race two days later is getting REALLY old.

[David]

As much as I hate F1 politics, I have to side with the stewards on this one. There's no room for lying in an investigation like this.

Actually, this is the only penalty I've agreed with in a long time, but of course this penalty is due to a penalty that shouldn't have been leveed

[gtc]

I agree, this whole thing is stupid.
Anyone else find it unbelievable that there was no video coverage of the pass?

This and the "spirit of the rules" diffuser debacle are quickly overshadowing one of the most exciting F1 races in a while.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by legion

I seem to recall Massa lying to race officials last season about almost hitting another car in the pits and nothing was done about the actual lying. (Though he did get a fine instead of the time-penalty the rules mandate.)

It should be clear that the FIA is trying to drive McLaren from the sport.

It should also be clear that this was done so that McLaren didn't end the first race with points when Ferrari got none.

The double-standards are horrendous.

It should be clear that Lewis lied and deserves the punishment. His lies resulted in another driver erroneously getting a 25 second penalty which resulted in loss of 3rd place.
Ferrari didn't do it, the FIA didn't do it, Mclaren did. Telling the stewards something in an interview that isn't true to screw your competitors is not cool. No excuses.

Trying to point fingers at everyone else is a bit misleading, don'cha think?

And what is up with hammy's lipstick? That just aint right.

[jyl]

Coming clean and apologizing was the right thing to do.

Don't know what further consequences this will have for the McLaren team. I think being DQ'd and the public humiliation is pretty bad already. Between Hamilton and the team manager, you know who's expendable. Ryan has already been suspended and, reportedly, resigned.

[Wickd89]

Originally Posted by legion

I seem to recall Massa lying to race officials last season about almost hitting another car in the pits and nothing was done about the actual lying. (Though he did get a fine instead of the time-penalty the rules mandate.)

It should be clear that the FIA is trying to drive McLaren from the sport.

It should also be clear that this was done so that McLaren didn't end the first race with points when Ferrari got none.

The double-standards are horrendous.

Agree. This is getting real old.
I guess it is like politics at work. You feel that you the forces are working against you, but maybe you just have to learn to play the game...

[herr_oberst]

McLaren "suspended" Ryan today. Scapegoated? Probably.

HSAT, the FIA also fined Vettel, for trying to drive his wrecked car on three wheels in the closing laps - behind the safety car. The Bernie-Max show is more heavily rigged than the WWE or even NASCAR.

And don't get me started on the diffusers. There is every chance that the results from last week and this week are in jeopardy. Appeal will be heard on Thursday.

God, I used to just love F1 racing.

[K9Torro]

Hey all I know is that my wife wants to know what color his lip gloss is, she would like to try some the shade is nice she says...

Todd

[imcarthur]

The spin is beginning . . .

"Lewis Hamilton's public apology over the 'lie-gate' scandal was appreciated by the governing FIA, a spokesman has indicated.

While serious questions remain about McLaren's position, and also the damage done to the reigning world champion's reputation, the FIA official suggested the Briton had done the right thing to say sorry.

"We recognise Lewis' efforts to set the record straight today," he said. "It would appear that he was put in an impossible position."

"We are now awaiting reports from the FIA observer and stewards before consideration can be given to further investigation of the team's conduct. We cannot rule out the matter being referred to the World Council."

McLaren, nearly excluded from the championship amid the 'spygate' scandal of 2007, is therefore not out of the woods"

Source f1-live

Ian

[K9Torro]

Hey the wife still wants to know what make/model his LIP GLOSS is, and if it is available in the U.S.A. anyone ???

Todd

[DaveE]

McLaren seems to have real issues with ethics. It's a shame since Lewis is a great driver, probably the best in the sport currently.