Motor Sport: A contrite Lewis Hamilton finally broke his silence on his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix this afternoon and apologised for his part in misleading race stewards.
Hamilton was excluded from the classification for last weekend’s race after it was determined that he and the team’s sporting director, Dave Ryan, had deliberately misled stewards in their investigation into an incident towards the end of the race.
Ryan has been suspended by the team and Hamilton, the reigning world champion, still faces the possibility of further sanctions from the FIA, which could include suspension or disqualification from the championship.
“In Melbourne I had a great race and as soon as I got out of the car I did TV interviews at the back of the garage and straightaway I told them what had happened during the race,” Hamilton said.
“Straight after that we were requested to appear before the stewards and whilst waiting for the stewards, I was instructed and misled by the team manager to withhold information and that’s what I did.
“I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time but really, I’m very sorry for the situation and for my team and for Dave, because he’s been a good member of the team for many years and I don’t think that it was his intention. He’s a good guy.
“When I went into the meeting, I had no intention (to lie). I just wanted to tell my story and see what happened. I was misled and that’s just how it went. I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans who have believed in me and supported me through the years. They watched me for what I am the last two years - that’s who I am.
“I am not a liar. I’m not a dishonest person. I’m a team player and every time I’ve been informed to do something, I’ve done it. This time I realise that it’s a huge mistake and I’m learning from it.
“I apologise for not speaking to you (the media) yesterday but it’s a lot to take in and a lot to deal with it so I’m hear to apologise to everyone.”
Kimi Raikkonen shook off his disappointing start to the season and an incident in his car as Ferrari recorded the two quickest times in the second practice session in Sepang.
Ferrari endured their worst start to the season in 17 years when Raikkonen and teammate Felipe Massa failed to finish last week’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The winner in Sepang last year, Raikkonen set the sixth fastest time in today’s opening practice, although he had to cut short his session and was seen jumping out of his car in the pits with smoke billowing out of the cockpit.
It seemed initially that the cockpit’s fire extinguisher had been accidentally triggered, but it was later suggested that the car’s KERS batteries had overheated.
The Finn shook off that incident though to record a time of one minute 35.707 seconds in overcast conditions in the afternoon, 0.125secs ahead of Massa.
Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull was third while Nico Rosberg, who had topped all three practices in Australia and the opening session in Malaysia, was fourth for Williams.
Mark Webber was fifth in the second Red Bull while the Brawn pair of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button were sixth and seventh respectively.
Kazuki Nakajima was eighth in the second Williams with Heikki Kovalainen’s McLaren and Nelson Piquet’s Renault in ninth and 10th respectively.
Hamilton could only manage 11th place with a time of 1:36.401, with Trulli just behind in 12th.
Giancarlo Fisichella sustained damage to the front wing and front left wheel of his Force India after running wide on turn 11, going over the curb and through the gravel before crashing into the tyre wall.
Timo Glock also had an eventful session in his Toyota as he spun on turn seven and then made a run through the gravel at turn six a couple of laps later.