… sports’ governing body accepts public apology
SEPANG, Malaysia (Reuters) – The chances of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton facing fresh sanctions for deliberately misleading race stewards receded yesterday when the sport’s governing body accepted his public apology.

However, the Paris-based International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the Briton’s McLaren team could yet be summoned to appear before its world motor sport council with the risk of heavy penalties.

“We recognise Lewis’s efforts to set the record straight today,” an FIA spokesman said.

“It would appear that he was put in an impossible position. We are now awaiting reports from the FIA observer and stewards before consideration can be given to further investigation of his team’s conduct.”

Hamilton held a news conference yesterday to apologise at the Malaysian Grand Prix a day after being stripped of his third place from last weekend’s season-opening race in Australia.

Race stewards decided that he and McLaren had misled them at a post-race enquiry in Melbourne that demoted Toyota’s Jarno Trulli from third to 12th and elevated Hamilton from fourth to third.

Trulli had overtaken Hamilton illegally while the safety car was deployed but argued afterwards that he had little alternative since the 24-year-old Briton had slowed down to let him pass.

Hamilton and McLaren denied there had been any instruction for him to let Trulli overtake but team radio communications showed that was not the case.

McLaren, who were fined a record $100 million and docked all their constructors’ points in 2007 for a spying controversy involving Ferrari data, suspended team manager Dave Ryan yesterday.

Hamilton told reporters Ryan had told him “to withhold information” from the stewards in Australia.

The FIA made clear that further action could still be taken against the team for allegedly bringing the sport into disrepute.

“We cannot rule out the matter being referred to the world motor sport council at this stage,” the spokesman said.