Furious Lewis bows to boss

The British driver vented his frustration at being told to gift team-mate Fernando Alonso victory by ranting at his race engineer Phil Prew and refusing to slow down.

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Yesterday, as the governing FIA launched an investigation into the controversy, Sportsmail learned that Dennis was forced to step in over the in-car radio and speak to his protege directly.

It was only then that rookie Hamilton, who made his views clear with several high-speed laps, finally relented and abided by his boss's demand that he should settle for second place.

One paddock insider revealed: "Lewis was very angry. He turned the air blue when he was told to take it easy."

Dennis's decision sparked speculation that McLaren could be docked points for issuing team orders. There is even possibility they might be thrown out of the championship and William Hill have suspended betting on it.

The sport's ruling body issued a statement, saying: "The FIA have launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren-Mercedes team at the Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.

"The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course."

If the FIA, under president Max Mosley, determine there is a case to be answered, McLaren will go before the World Motor Sport Council, which would be convened in Paris, probably before the next race in Canada on June 10.

Team orders have been banned since Rubens Barrichello sacrificed victory in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix to Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher, who went on to win by less than two-tenths of a second.

At the time, the Council branded the behaviour 'deplorable', but the regulations did not permit them to act.

Instead, Ferrari were handed a $1million fine for breaching podium protocol because the two drivers swapped places on the rostrum.

It was seen by many as a pretext for punishing the Italian team.

Later that year, the F1 Commission reacted by producing the edict which still applies. It stated: "Team orders which interfere with a result will be prohibited."

McLaren, who ironically led the protests against Ferrari, are keen to be seen as whiter than white and will assist the FIA fully with their inquiry.

A spokesman for the team said: "We are completely comfortable with the FIA's investigation with our race strategy and that all the decisions taken both before and during the race were in compliance with the International Sporting Code."

McLaren's defence will centre on Dennis's carefully-chosen words post race, when he said: "Team strategy is what you bring to win; team orders are what you bring to manipulate a grand prix."

It is a fine line but McLaren can claim that, unlike the infamous Austrian farce, they did not alter the probable result but merely preserved the status quo on Monaco's uniquely unpredictable street circuit.

Nevertheless, how Hamilton's disquiet, voiced with growing conviction after a brilliant start to his top-level career, will dent his bond with Dennis - the man who has supported him since he was a promising 12-year- old karter - remains to be seen.