F1: Lewis: Team Asked Me To Let Trulli Past
Written by: Adam Cooper http://www.speedtv.com
03/29/2009 - 08:45 AM
Melbourne (AUS)
Trulli was penalised 25 seconds after the race, handing his podium finish to Hamilton (LAT) » More PhotosLewis Hamilton has said that McLaren told him to let Jarno Trulli back past after the pair had swapped places under the safety car in Australia.
While the track was under caution Trulli slid wide and onto the grass, so Hamilton was obliged to pass him. Lewis says that the team then asked him to let Trulli back by, presumably because the team feared a penalty.
However after the race it was Trulli who was penalised for passing under yellows, and docked 25s. Because the field was compacted by the safety car finish, the Italian fell right back to 13th, while Lewis took his third place.
However, speaking as he emerged from parc ferme, Lewis told SPEEDtv.com: �€˜I was behind Trulli under the safety car, and clearly you�€™re not allowed to overtake under the safety car. But he went off in the second to last corner, he went wide on the grass, I guess his tyres were cold. And I was forced to go by. I slowed down as much as I could. I was told to let him back past, but I mean... I don�€™t know if that�€™s the regulations, and if it isn�€™t, then I should have really had third.�€™
In a team statement Trulli corroborated Hamilton�€™s story by insisting that the McLaren had slowed down and pulled over so dramatically that Jarno �€˜thought he had a problem.�€™
However, after the two drivers met with the stewards and given their stories the Italian�€™s view was discounted, and officials apparently came to the conclusion that Lewis had not voluntarily let him by.
It is not normally possible to appeal against such a penalty because a 25s time penalty is the equivalent of a stop and go, and is issued after incidents that take place in the last five laps and which cannot be dealt with in the normal way.
However, Toyota has found a rarely used channel that allows them to appeal via local Clerk of the Course, former F1 driver Tim Schenken, rather than the usual FIA channels. The move has allowed Toyota to buy some time while it considers the matter.
Hamilton meanwhile was satisfied with his day even before he was promoted a place: �€˜With the car that we have, to finish fourth is a great achievement. So we�€™ll take that and move on and try to do better. I couldn�€™t have been more on the limit I got as much out of it as I could.�€™
Source: Speedtv.com article
Am I the only one imagining Hamilton, in front of the stewards, denying everything?
If Hamilton forced Trulli by, how the hell can they give Trulli a penalty?