Lewis Hamilton confesses: I was told to lie by McLaren

The world champion, who was close to tears, claimed it was the "worst thing I've experienced in my life" as he apologised for his part in the incident. He said sporting director David Ryan had told him what to say to the race officials and maintained he is not a liar.

Hamilton was excluded from the Melbourne classification yesterday after it was determined that he and Ryan had deliberately misled stewards in their investigation into an over-taking manoeuvre involving Toyota's Jarno Trulli towards the end of the race.

Ryan has, subsequently, been suspended by McLaren and Hamilton 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 straight away 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 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. I was misled and that's just how it went.

"I would like to say a big sorry to all my fans. I am not a liar and 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."

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh is also believed to be considering his position after what has been a disastrous start to the season.

Hamilton, 24, was only 11th fastest in this morning's first practice for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix and was also fined £1,150 for exceeding the 60mph pit-lane speed limit by 5mph.

The performance of his car has only added to his sense of torture at the events surrounding his disqualification and Hamilton felt that he owed it to his fans to explain his side of the story.

"This is not an easy thing for anyone to do, to put their hand up and realise that they're in the wrong," he added. "But the fact is I was in the wrong and I felt that I owed it to my fans to let them know.

"I was misled but that was the situation and that's why I'm here.

"I didn't have time to think about what I was going to do. I went in and I did it and felt very uncomfortable and I think that the stewards could see that. I've never felt so bad."

Whitmarsh said that Ryan, who has been with the team for more than 30 years, had been suspended for a "serious error of judgement during the hearings". He added: "It is a very sad day for the team as we have suspended our long-standing sporting director Dave Ryan.

"He has been with the team for 35 years. I've known him personally for 20 years and anyone who knows him knows that he is a dedicated and hard-working individual."

While agreeing that Hamilton had not been truthful himself during the hearing, Whitmarsh implied that the driver had followed the lead of Ryan when meeting with the stewards.

"I think that Lewis was not entirely truthful but we have spoken to Davey, who was the senior member of the team, and they were trying to deal with the situation and they got it wrong," he said. "Davey was responsible for what happened and so I took the decision this morning."