[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.