McLaren suspend sporting director over Hamilton row

McLaren's long-time sporting director Dave Ryan was today suspended and ordered home over the Lewis Hamilton controversy at the Australian Grand Prix.

Ryan represented McLaren along with Hamilton in the post-race stewards' hearing in Melbourne that dealt with Jarno Trulli's overtaking of the Briton under safety car conditions.

The incident earned the Italian a 25-second penalty, which saw him relegated to 12th, with Hamilton promoted onto the podium behind the Brawn 1-2 team of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

But after a hastily arranged hearing in Malaysia yesterday, the sport's governing body ruled that the Briton and his team deliberately provided misleading information on the circumstances leading to Trulli's penalty.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said Ryan, a New Zealander who has been with the team for 35 years, had to take full responsibility for bringing the team into disrepute.

"He's been an integral part of McLaren since 1974 and has played a crucial role in the team's many world championship successes since that time," he said "However, his role in the events of last Sunday, particularly his dealings with the FIA stewards, has caused serious repercussions for the team, for which we apologise.

"Therefore, I suspended him this morning and he has accepted this."