Lying Lewis or Holy Hamilton?

The fallout from the Australian Grand Prix continues despite the second round of the World Championship being well under way.

Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time in Friday practice but he is far from the headlines as more information is slowly revealed over the FIA's decision to disqualify Lewis Hamilton from the Melbourne race.

I fear this may well be another F1 scandal that us the fans will never know the truth of, as it's clear the press aren't even sure what is going on. The BBC report that 'Hamilton insists he is not a liar' and the whole report seems to show Hamilton has come out fighting in the wake of this latest scandal. However the headline on the official Formula1.com website reads 'Hamilton apologises for Melbourne mistake'.

So which is it? Hands up or gloves off?

Either way both stories confirm Lewis claims that he was told to 'withhold information' from the stewards by sporting director Dave Ryan, a man who is now suspended and facing the sack. The British World Champion insists that he is not a liar or a dishonest person. But unfortunately that would also prove to be untrue.

He told stewards in Australia he was not instructed by his team to allow Jarno Trulli to pass him, however radio transmissions have proven he had. Hamilton now claims he is sorry to his fans and the stewards for misleading them but still seems to believe he is not to blame.

"I want to say sorry to all my fans. I am not a liar or a dishonest person, I am a team player. If the team ask me to do something, I generally do it. This is not an easy thing to do, to step back and realise I was in the wrong. But I was in the wrong, I was misled."

Seemingly a good apology, until the last three words. Quickly and quietly taking the plaudits for honesty, then shoveling the responsibility onto someone else.

"I was misled." Maybe, but you knew the team's aim was extra points, and you knew it was wrong.

Time to accept responsibility for your actions Lewis, or this could be a very tough season.

Hamilton Stripped of Aussie Podium

Lewis Hamilton has been stripped of his podium finish and championship points from the Australian Grand Prix after a review by race stewards.

After initially finishing in fourth place at Albert Park he was promoted to third when Toyota driver Jarno Trulli was handed a 25 second penalty. A review of the decision has seen Trulli reinstated in third and Hamilton disqualified after 'new elements' of the investigation were discovered by the FIA.

A statement on the Official Formula One website revealed, “The Stewards have considered the new elements presented to them from the 2009 Australian Formula One Grand Prix, consider that driver No 1 Lewis Hamilton and the competitor Vodafone McLaren Mercedes acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the Stewards."

The hearing was held at the Sepang circuit, host of this Sunday's Malaysian grand prix. World champion Lewis Hamilton left without comment, but a spokesman for his team ensured the driver is not at fault.

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes understands that the Stewards made their decision on the basis of reviewing radio transmissions between the driver and the Team. The Team mistakenly believed that the radio transmissions had been reviewed by the FIA on Sunday 29th March 2009, and consequently did not believe it was necessary to discuss them with the Stewards on that date. Nonetheless, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team now regrets that it did not do so, accepts the Stewards' decision and will not appeal."

This decision is the latest in a list of decisions that have seen the FIA punish Mclaren and Hamilton. The team have found the FIA to be unforgiving of their actions since the Spygate scandal which tarnished the 2007 season. They were fined £50m and stripped of their constructors points for the season.

Hamilton was also demoted from first after the Belgian Grand Prix last season after he was adjudged to have unfairly overtaken Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen. The Brit had cut the last corner after Raikkonen squeezed him off the track and immediately allowed the Fin back in front. Despite this, his overtake at the following corner was classed unfair and Hamilton was pushed back to second.

The third place in Sydney had been the silver lining on Hamilton's opening weekend which had seen him a long way off the pace of the front runners, but this decision now leaves him even further from retaining his title.

Awards Night: Australia

This week's awards are the first in the history of this blog, but we're sure given three to four weeks that they will be more coveted by members of the paddock than championship points.

Enough of this chit chat and on with the ceremony. Awards time!

Drive of the week

Jenson Button - Lights to flag in first place and entirely unflappable across all 58 laps. This voctory marked the 200th race win for British drivers and more importantly announced that Button is a title rival.

A weekend to forget for...

Ferrari - Whilst challenging the mid to low points scorers they never had the pace of the front runners. Raikkonen showed he still has not rediscovered his title winning form and an unusual reliability failure saw an end to Massa's race. Zero points and hope for Malaysia.

A weekend to remember for...

Ross Brawn - All his Ferrari wins have been overshadowed by a debut one-two for the team that races under his own name. Turned around a team that was falling and has put them clear at the top.

The voters choice award.

This award will be chosen by you! This is a special mention award for those who deserve a little extra credit for their weekend's work.

Just look to the right of the screen to vote for your pick of this weeks nominations.

Lewis Hamilton - World champion took his uncompetitive car from 18th on the grid to a podium finish.

Sebastien Buemi - Debutant took his Toro Rosso to 7th place and picked up two world championship points. Was brave enough to have a look at Massa, could be one for the future.

Tim Glock - German put in an impressive performance after starting last and from the pit lane to claim third, two notable overtaking manoeuvres around the outside of turn four, this guy could be a contender.

Place your votes and we will announce the winner after the Malaysian GP.

What We Know Now: GP1 - Australia.

This is the first series to be launched on The Formula, and will be posted on the following Monday after every race weekend. It will provide a look back at the weekend's action and discuss what we, the teams and the drivers have learnt.

BEWARE THE UNKNOWN

Brawn GP notched a stunning one-two finish in their debut race as British driver Jenson Button calmly took his car from lights to flag without losing his lead.

The new regulations on aerodynamics and speed also seemed to have a good influence with regular overtaking and close battles throughout the field. But the longer front wings seemed to cause a few incidents and until drivers get used to that space being filled we could see a couple more flat tyres.

NEVER RULE OUT A CHAMPION

Mclaren's Lewis Hamilton started eighteenth on the grid and despite having a car as competitive as a horse and cart he managed to grab a third place on the podium. A result that could be crucial come the end of the season by which time he will be hoping to be somewhat more competitive.

Meanwhile Fernando Alonso finished in fifth place after starting tenth in Melbourne. A tailored drive saw Alonso bring his car home in the points in an unusually understated fashion whilst teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. started his season with a retirement.

The only other champion in the field, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, retired after 55 laps after a spin, in which he had miraculously avoided the wall, left his car unable to continue.

THE KIDS CAN STILL GET CARRIED AWAY

Beautifully illustrated by Red Bull's Sebastien Vettel and Robert Kubica of BMW. The pair were pretty much guaranteed a share of second of third place and if they had worked together could probably have caught Button before the end of the race.

However a slip of in Vettel's concentration saw him lose speed through turn one and Kubica's good run out of the second turn saw a wheel to wheel battle in the tight right-hander of turn three. Kubica didn't give Vettel room on the inside and the German refused to back off causing a collision. Whilst both drivers survived the initial contact they would only make it around one more corner as they independently crashed into almost the exact same spot.

YOU CAN BEND THE RULES, BUT YOU CAN'T BREAK THEM

As the FIA has so helpfully cleared up it's OK to race with a disputed rear diffuser but if you have a rear wing that isn't up to spec you must start from the pit lane. There's a line between the two somewhere but i can't quite see it..

Sensational Button!

Jenson, you’ve done it! You beauty!
He won the first Grand Prix of 2009. Well we did expect him to, didn’t we?

My neighbours would have not been happy as joyful high-pitched screeches as early as 730 would have probably woken them up. But it doesn’t matter, Button you were definitely worth it.

The Brit is back and loving it, many thought, including me that he went off the boil when decided to devour many glamorous women, and had a poor habit of showcasing big ridiculous sunglasses in public.

Although the glasses are still there, and probably the women too, he looked a man obsessed, loving what he is doing. So much enthusiasm was evident as he took all the glory in what must be Ross Brawn’s proudest victory. Just over three weeks ago, this team never existed but what a breath of fresh air they are.

Button always threatened to throw a match on previous Honda cars but he is in a car now that he should be proud off, it suits his driving style to a tee and it definitely showed.

Button was not the only successful Brit as POMs ruled once again in Melbourne. Lewis Hamilton’s win last year was followed by a lucky shunt up to third at Jarno Trulli’s expense. But this podium symbolised so much more for the World Champion.

It had the essence of a true Champion drive, already knowing that he didn’t have the sheer pace to keep up, Hamilton solely relied on textbook methods to keep himself competitive. He attacked when the time was right and defended properly when he needed too.

It is the massive indication yet that he has matured with his racing. Lewis was even gracious and very much surprised that he took as many points and well done to him.

McLaren needs to improve and quick. Perhaps a rear diffuser could come in useful.

Nevertheless, this day belonged to Button and to his second win in F1. And on this form, he will add to that. The vastly experienced Rubens Barrichello came in second to give Brawn GP a 1-2 finish on their debut, the first time that has happened since 1954.

I was a little disappointed to see a German and Pole in conflict once again. But instead of drawing arms, they decided to batter each other’s car instead.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel showed great form and looked set on a decent finish but he paid the price when he gave BMW’s Robert Kubica time to catch up. They locked wheels and both retired a lap later after colliding. They are still two very young drivers that still have a lot to learn, they have massive careers in front of them.

To top the day off, Ferrari failed to do anything. Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen retired early on to make it an all round perfect weekend for the British viewer.

Roll on Malaysia!

Brawn Again

Jenson has done it, the widely acclaimed favourite to win here in Australia has taken pole with team mate Barrichello completing the front row.

Brawn GP were simply sensational on their debut, backing up their initial practice and qualifying promise to take a surprise lead in F1.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica will make up the second role.

World Champion Lewis was left in the dust with a 15th position out of 20 as McLaren continued their dismal form. Lack of drive in the gearbox was blamed for a lack of speed. It looks very likely that he won’t win here tomorrow like he did in his Championship winning season.

Brawn GP pole position is a first for a brand new team since Scotland’s Jackie Stewart for Tyrrell at the Canadian GP in 1970.

And now the team has the backing of Sir Richard Branson’s money to fulfil their promise throughout the season. The team will soon be named Virgin BGP 001.

The top end of the field was two tenths of a second and shows early indication how close the race could be.

Let us hope for a thriller.

Nico Fastest!

What a baffling day in the first practice of the season.

Nico Rosberg was the fastest in both sessions in Australia for Williams, and who would have thought it?

This was certainly an interesting and intriguing day, Toyota, Brawn GP and Williams, who all initially fought off Thursday’s protest about diffusers, were extremely impressive and quick.

The fastest drivers of the day were unfamiliar - Rosberg, Barrichello, Trulli, Webber, Button, Glock, Nakajima, Vettel, Sutil (How was that possible?) and last year’s runner up Massa all make up the top ten.

Not a McLaren nor a World Champion insight. Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso were nowhere to be seen.

These protests against rear diffusers will hopefully run out of steam, the complaints were ignored that the cars using them were not up F1 regulations, although an appeal hearing is due shortly to ban them.

And those cars that can boost the diffusers, at the moment, were the fastest around Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit, no doubt, Ferrari will kick a fuss and the diffusers will probably be branded illegal soon enough.

So it still begs the question whether these surprising front-runners are actually legit. I do hope they are.

Brawn GP showed why they could be consider as favourites clocking notable times, three weeks ago the team never existed. Perhaps Jenson may appear from Hamilton’s rather large shadow to lead the way for the Brits and fulfil his potential that has been left wanting recently.

Hamilton looked completely astounded, he has even said the dreaded ‘still come good’ line. McLaren will need to find a fix and fast just to keep up. They were completely off the boil.

Qualifying will definitely be interesting.