Motor Sport: Lewis Hamilton became embroiled in yet another row on the eve of hoped-for victory in the Formula One world championship.
McLaren and controversy have gone hand in hand this season as one furore has followed another, so no surprises ahead of tomorrow's finale that Hamilton should be drawn into a further rumpus.
A particular foreign journalist took umbrage with Hamilton's exit from the pit lane during qualifying as he twice emerged when title rival Kimi Raikkonen approached on a flying lap.
The suggestion was Hamilton, who leads Ferrari star Raikkonen by seven points and McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso by four ahead of the title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix, had impeded the Finn.
It was a ridiculous suggestion, and Hamilton was forced to defend himself within 24 hours of potentially becoming the first rookie and the youngest driver to win the championship.
"There's no reason for me to do anything to Kimi," said Hamilton, who will start from second on the grid, splitting the Ferraris of pole man Felipe Massa and Raikkonen, with Alonso fourth.
"I came out of the pits, and because Fernando was behind me I knew I couldn't hold him up, but I was told I would be coming out close to Kimi. So I came out and when you're at that sort of speed your mirrors are vibrating and you can't see too much.
"I realised he was close, so I slowed. I can't attack the corner like he did, so I backed off and he went past me."
That drew the reply: "You never showed him clearly that you would give him a free track," to which Hamilton joked: "What do you want me to do? Put the indicators on?
"I did the best job, and I do apologise to him if I did get in his way."
An unnecessary exchange took place for a few seconds, and again at the end of the post-qualifying press conference.
The journalist asked: "Do you think you can do anything you want, and then just apologise? Is it the way it works in Formula One?"
Hamilton replied: "I'm not going to answer that," and when asked as to why, he added: "I don't really want to talk to you to be honest."