Hamilton Claims He Was Told To Lie to Stewards
#1
04-03-2009, 11:54 AM
Hamilton Claims He Was Told To Lie to Stewards
McLaren team veteran Dave Ryan has become the fall guy in the latest Stewards mess in F1. McLaren really needs to get their act together and in a hurry.
F1 : Hamilton says Dave Ryan told him to lie - HAMILTON - F1-Live.com[/
Hamilton says Dave Ryan told him to lie
All for one championship point...
World champion Lewis Hamilton on Friday apologised for lying to FIA stewards in Australia, but said he was instructed to by suspended team veteran Dave Ryan.
Ryan, who joined McLaren as a mechanic in the 1970s and was sent back to the hotel by team boss Martin Whitmarsh on Friday, ‘misled’ Hamilton, the 24-year-old British driver said.
"I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did," said Hamilton, referring to Sporting Director Ryan.
Hamilton said he wanted to tell the truth but has always followed the instructions of his bosses.
"I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans, who I showed who I am for the past three years, and it is who I am. I am not a liar. I am not a dishonest person.”
"Every time I have been informed to do something I have done it. This time I realise it was a huge mistake. I am here to apologise to everyone and I assure you it won't happen again," he told masses of international media in a specially-convened media centre press conference.
Hamilton said he felt ‘awkward’ and ‘uncomfortable’ about lying, and now the repercussions are the ‘worst thing’ he has experienced in his racing career.
"I've never felt so bad. Try and put yourself in my position and understand that, like I said, I am not a liar. And so for people to say I am dishonest and for the world to think that, what can I say?" he added.
He said he apologised ‘for the situation’ to Jarno Trulli before Thursday's stewards hearing, denying the saga was a cheap trick to gain a position through seeing the Italian unfairly penalised.
"That was not my aim. That is not something I do. I earn my points and my positions through hard work, and that is not the way I think," Hamilton insisted.
All for one championship point...
World champion Lewis Hamilton on Friday apologised for lying to FIA stewards in Australia, but said he was instructed to by suspended team veteran Dave Ryan.
Ryan, who joined McLaren as a mechanic in the 1970s and was sent back to the hotel by team boss Martin Whitmarsh on Friday, ‘misled’ Hamilton, the 24-year-old British driver said.
"I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did," said Hamilton, referring to Sporting Director Ryan.
Hamilton said he wanted to tell the truth but has always followed the instructions of his bosses.
"I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans, who I showed who I am for the past three years, and it is who I am. I am not a liar. I am not a dishonest person.”
"Every time I have been informed to do something I have done it. This time I realise it was a huge mistake. I am here to apologise to everyone and I assure you it won't happen again," he told masses of international media in a specially-convened media centre press conference.
Hamilton said he felt ‘awkward’ and ‘uncomfortable’ about lying, and now the repercussions are the ‘worst thing’ he has experienced in his racing career.
"I've never felt so bad. Try and put yourself in my position and understand that, like I said, I am not a liar. And so for people to say I am dishonest and for the world to think that, what can I say?" he added.
He said he apologised ‘for the situation’ to Jarno Trulli before Thursday's stewards hearing, denying the saga was a cheap trick to gain a position through seeing the Italian unfairly penalised.
"That was not my aim. That is not something I do. I earn my points and my positions through hard work, and that is not the way I think," Hamilton insisted.
Last edited by Barrister; 04-03-2009 at 11:57 AM.
#3
04-03-2009, 11:58 AM
But the way they handled it makes Lewis look like a liar, robot AND a turncoat! You don't solve this issue by throwing your Sporting Director under the bus.
Where have you gone Ron Dennis!?!
Where have you gone Ron Dennis!?!
#4
04-03-2009, 12:05 PM
So this Dave guy became the scapegoat. What's so sad is that McLaren don't need to do this all of this scheming for an extra championship point and they'll be lucky if they're not penalized further
#5
04-03-2009, 12:09 PM
And it makes Lewis look like a total moron. I have 3 kids. The "he told me to do it" excuse has never gone over very well.
Maybe someone needs to say "If Dave told you to drive off of a cliff, would you have done it LEWIS"?
Maybe someone needs to say "If Dave told you to drive off of a cliff, would you have done it LEWIS"?
#7
04-03-2009, 12:13 PM
Exactly. Something tells me Ron Dennis would've had this straightened out in no time. Hamilton is getting off to a VERY poor start this season. I'm disappointed but I know he'll rebound from this.
