I think it's clear cut as well and sends out a great message about lieing to the stewards. For once I applaud one of their decisions.
BBC commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle said: "This does not look good for Hamilton or McLaren.
"Hamilton passed Trulli as he was off the road. Hamilton clearly wondered then, to give him the benefit of the doubt, if he had passed under the safety car conditions and was trying to let Trulli back through.
"There was a point when he was doing just 15mph in his McLaren and Trulli had no option but to repass him.
"I think Lewis then saw half a chance of a third place instead of a fourth, went up to the stewards and didn't give them the full story.
"Now they've matched up his comments (to them) to radio content between him and the team, and other information they've gathered, and they've decided that effectively he was telling fibs.
"I think it's a big issue and it's not going to go away. If they were asked a direct question they should have given the right answer, and they clearly didn't."
Martin Brundle's take:
Funny how that footage has been witheld from the public eye till now.
Funny how that footage has been witheld from the public eye till now.
Whether they lied or not, I don't think it should affect the grid position in the race. The whole incident was outside the race so why the hell should Hamilton pay for it in the race.
Yes fine them a great big some of money by all means for lying (if that is the case) but the DQ him is ridiculous.
The way it has ended up looking is that Hamilton has been punished for being overtaken, whilst Trulli has been rewarded for overtaking under a Safety Car!
There is no need for a racing punishment for an incident that wasn't in the race.
Why? The FIA probably had hold of it while they made their decision. Now the decision has been made, the footage is available to all and sundry.
Neither have I. I very much respect his opinion on matters. With the BBC now having DC onboard as well anything like this is going to be well interpreted by MB and DC.I have never seen anyone on these boards who didn't respect Brundle and think he talked sense.
I think he has it on the money, and if he said Hamilton was doing just 15mph, then it is more the likely he was.
The BBC would have had some footage surely? Perhaps the Australian host broadcaster was told not to release it by the FIA?Why? The FIA probably had hold of it while they made their decision. Now the decision has been made, the footage is available to all and sundry.
On the plus, torro rosso look to be the main benificiaries of the FIA
And what engine is in the back of the Torro Rosso?
LOL FERRARI INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE LOL
What he did affected the results on the track so they have to take them away. A fine? How would that discourage lieing in the future.
And what engine is in the Brawn, who won, have had no penalties and so on?