F1

[meffin]

Lewis Hamilton and McLaren have been stripped of their podium finish and all points at the Australian Grand Prix.

The sport's world governing body said they were excluded "for providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards at the hearing on 29 March".

A post-race hearing promoted Hamilton from fourth to third after Trulli was penalised for passing the Englishman while the safety car was out.

Trulli and Toyota have been reinstated to third place.

The Italian was initially handed a 25-second penalty for the incident which saw him demoted to 12th.

Hamilton was summoned by stewards on Thursday to discuss what the FIA, motorsport's governing body, described as "a new element" of evidence.

It was not clear what the new evidence was, although it was thought to involve pit-to-car radio conversations between the team and driver.

The yellow safety flags came out at Melbourne after a collision between Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica in his BMW Sauber.

Trulli, who was demoted to 12th, slid off the track and was passed by Hamilton but the Toyota driver said he had little choice but to overtake the Briton again.

606: DEBATE
I'm wondering why I continue to watch, when I can just stay in bed on Sunday and read news outlets through the week to see the interchangeable results.

Pleb

"When the safety car came out towards the end of the race, Hamilton passed me but soon after he suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road," he said.

"I thought he had a problem so I overtook him as there was nothing else I could do."

Hamilton had told Speed TV after the race that Trulli went wide onto the grass at the second to last corner.

"I was forced to go by. I slowed down as much as I could. I was told to let him back past, I don't know if that's the regulations, and if it isn't, then I should have really had third," said the Briton.

Toyota had said after the race that they would make a protest but dropped that on Wednesday because they felt it had no chance of succeeding.

[tsb]

Don't get why he was penalised. Didn't he give back third to Trulli after being forced to overtake him under the safety car conditions? Is it just the evidence thing?

[tsb]

From the Guardian

"Hamilton finished fourth at Melbourne on Sunday before being upgraded to third after Jarno Trulli, of Toyota, was adjudged to have illegally overtaken the world champion under the yellow flag on the 57th lap of the race and handed a 25-second penalty, which relegated the Italian driver from third to 12th place."

Makes it a bit clearer.

[Vermilion]

Bollocks to it.

[nebbers]

I thought that he passed Trulli as he span off under yellow flag conditions. F

FS that is hardly overtaking. If he was off for a few seconds, does the whole field have to stop and wait for him to rejoin? How polite.

[meffin]

Hamilton has it tough with these decisions

[Baracus]

blame ferrari

[Vermilion]

I bet Ferrari had something to do with this, they always have a hand in making life difficult for Maclaren, they just can't handle the competition is all, i would be very surprised if Ferrari's prints aren't all over this decision, they were probably worried about Maclaren getting a start on them points wise with both Ferrari's having retired, so got involved with this ruling, sticking their big Oar in where it doesn't belong..crackoff. best i could do at such short notice.

[chadrtc]

Looks like it's going to be another season of stitch ups for McLaren.

[sambirken]

The FIA are a joke. the sport is a joke. so hamilton overtook when the guy made a mistake but wasn't sure if he was allowed, so he let Trulli through when he didn't have to because last season he got penalised to the max when he didn't. nobody knew the ****ing rules during the race.

Transcript of the radio transmission between Lewis Hamilton and his team:

Team: OK Lewis, you should need to make sure your delta is positive over the safety car line. After the safety car line the delta doesn't matter but no overtaking. No overtaking.

Lewis Hamilton: The Toyota went off in a line at the second corner, ..., is this OK?

Team: Understood, Lewis. We'll confirm and get back to you.

LH: He was off the track. He went wide.

Team: Lewis, you need to allow the Toyota through. Allow the Toyota through now.

LH: OK.

LH: He's slowed right down in front of me.

Team: OK, Lewis. Stay ahead for the time being. Stay ahead. We will get back to you. We are talking to Charlie.

LH: I let him past already.

Team: OK, Lewis. That's fine. That's fine. Hold position. Hold position.

LH: Tell Charlie I already overtook him. I just let him past.

Team: I understand Lewis. We are checking. Now can we go to yellow G 5, yellow Golf 5.

LH: I don't have to let him past I should be able to take that position back, if he made a mistake.

Team: Yes, we understand Lewis. Let's just do it by the book. We are asking Charlie now. You are in P4. If you hold this position. Just keep it together.


Team: OK Lewis, your KERS is full, your KERS is full. Just be aware. You can go back to black F2, black Foxtrott 2.

LH:/ Any news from Charlie whether I can take it back or not.

Team: Still waiting on a response Lewis, still waiting.

Team: Lewis, work on your brakes please. Front brakes are cold.

Team: If we are able to use one KERS that would be good. If you deploy KERS please do so now.

Team: OK, Lewis, this is the last lap of the race. At the end of the lap the safety car will come in, you just proceed over the line without overtaking, without overtaking. We are looking into the Trulli thing, but just hold position

.

[souliv]

Ha Ha so McLaren and Hamilton found to be cheating

[Darth Marty]

didnt seem to be much cheating involved did there.......

[souliv]

Welll McLaren just suspended their sporting director so I think the team believes it cheated

" McLaren have suspended Dave Ryan from his position as sporting director following yesterday’s disqualification of Lewis Hamilton by race stewards from the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh has suspended Ryan with immediate effect.

Ryan was the team member who attended a stewards’ hearing — along with Hamilton - following Sunday’s race, and was subsequently found to have lied in a bid to see the reigning world champion claim third.

Whitmarsh, who only took on his new role from Ron Dennis just over a month ago, has been forced to take action after being left shamefaced by yesterday’s drama at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Whitmarsh said: “In my 20 odd years working for McLaren, I doubt if I’ve met a more dedicated individual than Davey.

“He’s been an integral part of McLaren since 1974 and has played a crucial role in the team’s many world championship successes since that time.

“However, his role in the events of last Sunday, particularly his dealings with the FIA stewards, has caused serious repercussions for the team, for which we apologise. Therefore, I suspended him this morning and he has accepted this.”

[Vermilion]

Like this has never happened before in this sport, i just get the feeling that the powers that be seem to go that extra mile where Maclaren are concerned with things like this.

I mean we've seen Schumacher try to drive an opponent off the track 'TWICE' over the years, are we to believe he wouldn't bend the odd rule to win when dealing with Stewards and enquiries.

Lets get real here, IF Maclaren/Hamilton are proved to have done wrong in this instance, then don't for one minute think the other teams are all 'Whiter than White.

[Vermilion]

****in Trulli !!!!!!!!!, if he'd kept his car on the bloody track while behind the safety car ffs.