Formula 1 - what makes a World Champion?

FIA: McLaren instructed Hamilton to let Trulli pass

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren in the FIA Press Conference. Formula One World Championship, Rd 2, Malaysian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday, 2 April 2009 Martin Whitmarsh (GBR) McLaren Chief Executive Officer in a media scrum following the disqualification of Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren from the Australian GP. Formula One World Championship, Rd 2, Malaysian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday, 2 April 2009

The FIA have revealed details of the new evidence that prompted stewards to strip McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton of this third place in the Australian Grand Prix and hand the place back to Toyota’s Jarno Trulli, who had originally been penalized for passing Hamilton under the safety car.

According to the FIA, in the original enquiry into the incident, both Hamilton and McLaren stated that they had not deliberately let Trulli pass. However, in interview footage recorded immediately after the race - and not originally seen by stewards - Hamilton says he was instructed to move over for the Italian.

Furthermore, the FIA say that McLaren radio recordings contain ‘two explicit orders’ given to Hamilton to let the Toyota pass. Based on this new evidence the stewards ‘felt strongly that they had been misled’ by the driver and team, resulting in their decision to disqualify the world champion.

to read the full article click here

I think that a big apology is due to Jarno Trulli from both Hamilton and McLaren in public this weekend on the television