Lewis third, Jarno given 25s penalty > Trulli 3rd, Lewis DSQ

[b0son]

McLaren arn't appealing...I think that says it all.

Tell the whole story...

The FIA are waving the threat of further sanctions. No doubt this is being done to dissuade an appeal.

[axle]

Great news =D> There is someone up there after all.

And Hamliton did not drive "great" Only reason he got points is because others DNF. [-X

No he DID drive well. Overtook and raced just the way we like it... his eventual position was helped by good fortune but the style of his driving, his attacking approach was excellent, and that's what matters.

It is not a simple case of final position.

[meves]

Unfortuantely we've yet to see proof they did lie and/or cheat, and even if they did, DQ'ing them at Malaysia wouldn't exactly be a punishment fitting the crime...they balled up in Australia, so they should get penalised in Australia. Anything more than that would be draconian and would bring the sport into FURTHER dispute.

If you read the FIA statement it clearly says that McLaren mis-informed/directed the stewards. That = lying.

McLaren arn't appealing...I think that says it all.

I think that the staement was badly worded and it sounds like the usual sorry FIA/McLaren mess

As soon as that happened, we then spoke to Race Control, to explain that and ask if we could retake that place. At the time, understandably Race Control was busy and they were not able to give us an answer. We asked several times, but clearly they were very busy. So we had to then deal with it. We felt it would be resolved by the stewards after the race.

At the stewards' meeting, we mistakenly believed that the stewards were aware, Charlie [Whiting] was there, and the FIA was there, of that radio conversation. The stewards now believe that we were not explicit enough about that radio conversation, and felt therefore that that was prejudicial to the decision that they reached. Obviously we regret that, and that was a mistake by the team, but we have got to accept the decision that has now been made.

Q. But the indication in the ruling is that Lewis [Hamilton] lied to the stewards. What do you say to that?

MW: I don't think there is any indication of that. There is no suggestion that Lewis lied to the stewards.

Q. The FIA statement said ‘deliberate' though. What did they mean by that?

MW: I don't know what they meant by it, you will have to ask them. But from what I understand there was a belief that the team was not explicit enough in terms of the content of the radio conversations. We don't believe that those radio conversations had a material effect on the fact that he was passed by Trulli under the safety car, but they clearly feel that despite that information, which was listened to by Race Control who was present, that the team did not give enough information about that radio conversation. I don't think there is any implication that Lewis lied, or such a statement is contained in what they said or what they believe.

Q. But the ruling says that Lewis provided evidence that was ‘deliberately misleading.'

MW: What they believe is that... the information about that radio conversation with the team was withheld, and that is what they believe was misleading.

I'm glad that Trulli got his place as I think he drove an excellent race and Toyota deserve some luck. I just wish we could avoid all these appeals, awful stewarding and let teh racing speak for itself. Charlie Whiting seems like he is suffering from old age and being less than truthful too!

[ben_watkins]

Anyone think it's an odd precident that's been set with the FIAsco reopening a classified descision when there is no appeal?

Shame, as this will further dismay people who think there's now no point in watching the races as the sport is only ever decided in a court or after the cars/teams have left the race track!

[jddh1]

As I state in my blog (http://www.f1nerd.net/2009/04/02/hamilt ... d-blunder/) I think the bigger problem here isn't Hamilton being disqualified, but the whole stewarding system. If the stewards don't have all the information available at the time of a hearing they shouldn't be doing the hearing, simple as.

But how do the stewards know they do have all the available information? If a team hides information, then it's not really available, is it? It's called "tempering with evidence."

To those who say that there should be a deadline for when these things are considered, I did read a statement by the FIA that if the matter is not resolved by FP1 in Malaysia, it will be dropped. So there's a deadline for you.

I've also, like others, heard the youtube radio rapport between Trulli and his pit wall. I think it's clear that he was trying to give the place back.
A few days back, I said Hammi was right to take the place when Trulli spun off. And that's the correct move. I think he made a mistake to give the place back and I think he needs to blame his team for that.
Then he lied or withheld information to the stewards and that's a mistake in his part, not the team's. But let's not forget, this guys is just, what, 24 yrs old? It's been only two full seasons in F1, so i'm sure he doesn't know the politics as well as some others. Simply, inexperience on his part.

Finally, I do think the FIA made a huge mess of this. They have the radio rapport of each driver. How about go listen to it and, i don't know, do your job? So, as much as Macca screwed up, this is a bigger screw up for the FIA. It's just a scheme to break FOTA apart.

[jddh1]

Oh, and let me mention that I'm really happy Hamilton got DSQ, but for reasons you might not believe: I get more points in our F1 manager game.

[vall]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9115.html

listed to the Toyote radio that was posted on youtube. clearly LH lett Trulli pass and when Trulli trying to give LH pass him again, LH didn't do it

[imightbewrong]

The full explanation from the stewards:
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pr ... ision.aspx

[jddh1]

This is the Lewis-Macca radio exchange:

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.

[jddh1]

Seems to me like LH knew the rules and the team had no clue.

[Kester]

As I state in my blog (http://www.f1nerd.net/2009/04/02/hamilt ... d-blunder/) I think the bigger problem here isn't Hamilton being disqualified, but the whole stewarding system. If the stewards don't have all the information available at the time of a hearing they shouldn't be doing the hearing, simple as.

But how do the stewards know they do have all the available information? If a team hides information, then it's not really available, is it? It's called "tempering with evidence."

I don't mean teams withholding information, I meant they didn't have the radio transcripts at the time, and whether it is needed or not, things like radio transmissions, and video footage from all available angles should be available when a hearing is taking place.

[jddh1]

During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the Stewards and the Race Director questioned Lewis Hamilton and his Team Manager David Ryan specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake. Both the driver and the Team Manager stated that no such instruction had been given. The Race Director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted that he had not done so.

There's the lie.

[axle]

Seems to me like LH knew the rules and the team had no clue.

Which makes what he told the stewards later that day all the more confusing!

Why Why Why!???!

If they'd been straight and honest they could have just had their positions switched.

[vall]

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.

this seems consistent with what Trulli says that he tried to let LH pass him, but LH would not do it

[Kester]

It seems to me that if everything was told correctly at the time, Trulli would be 3rd, Hamilton 4th, and the rules would have been clarified. As it is, Hamilton is now disqualified for misleading the stewards, not for what actually happened on track.