Lewis Hamilton has ‘bridges to build’ with his McLaren-Mercedes team over the Melbourne ‘lies’ scandal, with his mechanics ‘unhappy’ and ‘upset’ at the defending Formula 1 World Champion’s threat to quit over the controversy and the manner in which he cast Dave Ryan into the role of ‘fall guy’.
Hamilton made an emotional public apology a week later in Sepang, repeatedly insisting that he is ‘not a liar’ and arguing that he had been similarly ‘misled’ by the Woking-based outfit’s respected long-time sporting director Ryan, a man who he suggested had instructed him to follow his lead in not being honest when questioned by Albert Park race stewards – and who was subsequently dismissed in the fall-out, with team principal Martin Whitmarsh claiming that as the ‘senior’ team member involved, it was the Kiwi who was ultimately responsible.
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That has left the 24-year-old’s mechanics furious that Ryan has been made the scapegoat after 35 years’ loyal and dedicated service, with many arguing that Hamilton’s actions in the wake of the row could not have been more in contrast to that.
“The mechanics are unhappy with Lewis,” a team insider said, “and he has got a lot of bridges to rebuild. They have all known Davey for many, many years and are upset that he became the fall guy.
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“Then there was the talk of Lewis threatening to quit the team. That did not go down well because we feel he should have shown more support after the work we’ve done for him. The guys put all the hours in and don’t get anywhere near the rewards he does.”
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