Hamilton disqualified from Australian GP

London, Apr 2: Lewis Hamilton and his team McLaren have been excluded from classification in the Australian grand prix for providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards at the hearing on Mar 29 and the British driver has been stripped of his third place.

The FIA ruled that Hamilton provided misleading information on the circumstances, which led to Toyota's Jarno Trulli being demoted from his third place finish.

The FIA examined 'new evidence' that came to light regarding exactly what went on when Hamilton and Trulli were battling for third and fourth positions under safety car conditions at the Albert Park circuit last Sunday.

Hamilton had finished the race fourth overall, but was promoted to the podium after reporting Trulli of illegal overtaking, SKY News reported.

McLaren accused the Italian driver of passing Hamilton while a safety car was on the track on lap 57.

Trulli was subsequently slapped with a 25-second penalty, which saw him relegated to 12th.

He has been reinstated to third place.

Britain's Jenson Button, driving for the new Brawn team, won the opening race of the season ahead of his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello.

ANI