"Is it safe to look yet?"

F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has come out fighting after he was disqualified by the FIA following last week’s third place finish in the Australian Grand Prix.

The Brit said “I’m not a liar or a dishonest person” but admitted that the events of the last week had been the worst he had experienced in his life.

“I could not tell you how sorry I am for the embarrassment and I apologise to the race stewards for wasting their time and making them look silly” Hamilton continued.

McLaren were disqualified after FIA-appointed race stewards claimed that “deliberately misleading” information had been given about the way Hamilton was passed by Jarno Trulli with Toyota while the safety car was out. A radio transcript has since emerged which sheds light on the Melbourne incident.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE RADIO TRANSMISSION

Lewis Hamilton: The Toyota went off in a line at the second corner, I overtook him, is that OK?

Team: Understood, Lewis. We’ll confirm and get back to you.

LH: He was off the track. He went wide.

Team: Lewis, you need to allow the Toyota through. Allow the Toyota through now.

LH: OK.

LH: He’s slowed right down in front of me.

Team: OK, Lewis. Stay ahead for the time being. Stay ahead. We will get back to you. We are talking to Charlie.

LH: I let him past already.

Team: OK, Lewis. That’s fine. That’s fine. Hold position. Hold position.

LH: Tell Charlie I already overtook him. I just let him past.

Team: I understand Lewis. We are checking. Now can we go to yellow G 5, yellow Golf 5.

LH: I don’t have to let him past I should be able to take that position back, if he made a mistake.

Team: Yes, we understand Lewis. Let’s just do it by the book. We are asking Charlie now. You are in P4. If you hold this position. Just keep it together…

…Team: OK, Lewis, this is the last lap. At the end of the lap the safety car will come in, you just proceed over the line without overtaking, without overtaking. We are looking into the Trulli thing, but just hold position.