World champion Lewis Hamilton today described the controversy over his actions at the Australian Grand Prix as "the worst time of my life", saying he was misled as he issued an apology.
World champion Lewis Hamilton today described the controversy over his actions at the Australian Grand Prix as "the worst time of my life", saying he was misled as he issued an apology.
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"For me, this situation is definitely the worst time I've experienced in my life," said the McLaren driver who was accused of lying over the circumstances that led to Jarno Trulli being demoted to 12th from third in Melbourne.
He said he had been misled by McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan, who was suspended earlier today, into giving the wrong information at a stewards' meeting into the incident.
"I've never felt so bad, for the world to think of me as dishonest. It's only right for me, as a human being, as a man, to put my hands up and tell you how sorry I am."
Ryan represented McLaren along with Hamilton in the post-race stewards' hearing in Melbourne that dealt with Trulli's overtaking of the Briton under safety car conditions.
The incident earned the Italian a 25-second penalty, which saw him relegated, with Hamilton promoted onto the podium behind the Brawn 1-2 team of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.
But after a hastily arranged hearing in Malaysia on yesterday, the sport's governing body ruled that the Briton and his team lied about the circumstances leading to Trulli's penalty.
Trulli was reinstated and Hamilton disqualified.
In the aftermath, an embarrassed McLaren suspended Ryan and ordered him home.
Hamilton said he had always been a team man was just following what Ryan told him to do.
"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'm very, very sorry for the situation, for my team and for Dave, who has been a good member of the team for many years."
Hamilton added that he had since realised "it was a huge mistake, I have learned from it, but it has taken a toll on me".
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