Their team manager Dave Ryan asked race director Charlie Whiting whether he felt that Hamilton had done enough in handing back the position to satisfy the stewards.

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McLaren have clearly parked the blame for the miscommunication between Hamilton and the race stewards on sporting director Dave Ryan, who as a result has been suspended.

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Hamilton subsequently apologised for his involvement in the incident, claiming he had been told to lie by sporting director Dave Ryan, who was suspended and then sacked within 24 hours of the FIA's announcement of its findings.

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