Lewis Hamilton believes his first victory for nine months was just reward for his “completely knackered” team.

McLaren have burned the midnight oil these past few months in a bid to build a race-winning car again after spending the first half of the season towards the back of the grid, and it has paid dividends.

The rocket-red victory shirts, celebratory loud music and flowing champagne were all back in evidence inside the McLaren brand centre yesterday following Hamilton’s Hungarian Grand Prix triumph.

The success ended Hamilton’s five-race drought without a point, and 10 since the last time he took the chequered flag in China last October.

The world champion looked the part, and the relief was palpable as he said: “It’s been almost a year - such a long time that it felt surreal to win again.

“I couldn’t believe how well it all went. I love my car right now - the overall package is fantastic.

“It’s been a huge turnaround. At the start of the season, I said if anybody could do this, it would be us.

“You’ve seen ourselves and Ferrari stepping up our game, and if we’d had this car at the beginning of the season I reckon we’d have won more races.

“But we always said we were six months behind the top guys and, sure enough, six months later we’re back at the front.

“Things can now only get better for us. The updates we’ve introduced have made a huge difference and the car is a pleasure to drive.

“But we’ve still quite a few improvements to make to the car as there are areas we haven’t yet explored.”

The win, though, means McLaren can now enjoy their two-week break due to start next Monday, with the holiday enforced as part of new cost-saving initiatives amongst all the teams.

For one employee in particular, who McLaren recently highlighted had put in a 36-hour shift to aid the team’s cause, he is likely to be very happy.

“I know they’re all completely knackered,” added Hamilton, with the next race not until August 23 in Valencia.

“I hope they get a good break over the next couple of weeks so we can be ready to come back and get some more podiums.”

There was particular delight for Martin Whitmarsh, who has endured a tough few months since taking over as team principal.

The wretched car aside, Whitmarsh was forced to deal with the fall-out from the ‘lie-gate’ saga in Australia, as well as play a major role in the recent FIA-FOTA battle over the future of Formula One.

Whitmarsh certainly enjoyed standing on the podium yesterday at the Hungaroring and receiving his first constructors’ trophy as team boss.

“It was a fantastic feeling,” remarked Whitmarsh, who was doused in champagne on the podium by Hamilton.

“I’ve been on the podium before. I was there for Lewis’ first ever win, but to be up there again, it had to be a special one.

“I have to admit the second half of the race was nerve-racking because I, the team, Lewis, everyone, needed a victory.

“But no-one needed this win more than me, so it was great.”

With McLaren now clearly back on the pace, the belief is it will not be a one-off this season.

“I’m sure more than a few people were sniggering down their sleeves at the suggestion we could win in Hungary,” remarked Whitmarsh.

“But we believed it. We tried to be realistic and objective, and we proved we were, and it was very, very rewarding.

“This team has been at war on a few issues this year, but we have come through that and we now want to win some more races.”

Hamilton is due to attend the team’s factory in Woking tomorrow, which is certain to be a moment as special as when he returned as world champion last year.

“Lewis has been a fantastic asset, and he’ll be a better one,” enthused Whitmarsh.

“Lewis did a fantastic job (in Hungary) and he is a fantastic champion.

“He had already planned to come to the factory tomorrow, so for the whole team it will be a massive celebration on Tuesday.

“But once that is out of the way, then we’ll get on with things very quickly.”

Lewis Hamilton is rooting for Jenson Button to fly the flag at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

In an uncompetitive McLaren, Hamilton appreciates he has no chance of repeating his stunning triumph of last year when he trounced the opposition by 68 seconds at a wet, grey Silverstone.

The world champion knows he will be fortunate to even claim a point on Sunday as he has come to accept the car and all its faults.

Instead, and as far as Hamilton the patriot is concerned, the next best option is for Button to continue on his seemingly relentless march towards this season’s crown and claim another victory.

“Last year was clearly incredible for me. I don’t know how we won by a minute and eight seconds,” reflected Hamilton.

“Every time I went past the grandstands I could see out of the corner of my eye the fans waving flags and cheering, even though it was soaking wet, raining non-stop.

“It was the most fulfilling race of my whole life, and the amount of support was very special.

“As for this weekend, I’m just going to make sure I enjoy it and embrace the fans because they were so supportive.

“Unfortunately, this year I’ve just not got the car. I’ve had to adjust from last year because it’s a struggle just to get into the points.

“I’m still going to be gunning, pushing as hard as I can, all out, like I do every race, but I know I’ll be mid-field somewhere, which is to be expected,

“So from my perspective it will be great if Jenson wins. I’m egging him on, and I guess I should put some money on him.

“It will be a proud moment to have a fellow Brit win, and I’ll be able to understand exactly how he is feeling.

“His lifelong dream is to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and I’m sure it will be more special for him than his win at Monaco last month. I know it was for me.”

Hamilton concedes being unable to savour that winning feeling this year has made life hard, although bearable by the fact he wears the tag of world champion.

A philosophical Hamilton knows he is simply on a downward slope of a rollercoaster ride nearly all Formula One drivers endure at some stage in their careers.

“I’ve been racing since I was eight years old, and racing is really the biggest part of my life,” remarked Hamilton.

“So every day I’m preparing for these races and you turn up and you are not winning, it’s hard.

“When you arrive at a circuit, even though you don’t have a great car, you still believe you can win.

“You’re always convinced in your mind that until the chequered flag something could still happen, that 16 guys in front of you might crash out.

“So you always have to keep going until you see that flag, and then when you get to the end and it’s a little disappointing, you know you are not alone.

“I have a team of almost a thousand people behind me, who are all working as hard as each other.

“I know there will be ups and downs. Other drivers have had bad years, so now I’m looking forward to the next few good years.

“When you have a tough day, you feel it, but you know you will live to see another day and so you have to get up and fight.”

Lewis Hamilton is desperately hoping expectation becomes reality and he is able to maintain McLaren’s streak in Monaco.

One of Hamilton’s four race wins last year en route to the Formula One world title came around the streets of the principality as the team continued their enviable record.

That was McLaren’s second in succession after Fernando Alonso’s triumph in 2007, their sixth in 11 years with engine partners Mercedes, and their 15th overall.

With Monte Carlo due to suit this year’s McLaren which enjoys low-speed corners, the Woking team cannot be written off on Sunday.

“Monaco is my favourite circuit,” enthused Hamilton.

“The sensation you get from racing up the hill at 175mph, trying to make as straight a line as possible between the barriers while just shaving them with the walls of the tyres is unbelievable - the best sensation you could ever have in a Formula One car.

“There’s an expectation Monaco will be another good circuit for our car because the combination of low-speed corners and absence of any really fast stuff should suit it.

“I really hope so because it would be fantastic to have a competitive car and be fighting at the front again.”

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh also feels a hat-trick of consecutive victories is not beyond the realms of possibility.

“Everybody at McLaren is rightfully proud of the team’s reputation around the streets of Monte Carlo,” said Whitmarsh.

“We have won the grand prix for the past two seasons and McLaren has triumphed here an unprecedented 15 times - more than any other Formula One team.

“As a result, we go into the race with a greater degree of optimism than we had going into Barcelona.

“Both Lewis and Heikki (Kovalainen) enjoy this circuit and we feel the car will be a more competitive proposition around the streets of the principality.”

Lewis Hamilton’s bid for back-to-back F1 world titles is very much alive after McLaren had “their wrist slapped”.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, McLaren were handed a suspended three-race ban.

Many will perhaps view it as lenient as the team were charged with five counts of breaching the International Sporting Code relating to fraudulent conduct and acts prejudicial to the sport.

However, it comes as no surprise following the sweeping changes which have taken place within the team since Hamilton and Dave Ryan were caught lying to stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.

Along with mentioning the word ’sorry’ on a number of occasions, fundamentally that is what has spared McLaren from suffering the punishment meted out 18 months ago after the ’spy-gate’ saga.

In that instance, they were fined a sporting record £50million and thrown out of the constructors’ championship, but that was never on the cards today.

It leaves Hamilton, currently 22 points behind championship leader Jenson Button, again free to focus on his title bid throughout the remaining 13 races of the season.

Speaking after the hearing, FIA president Max Mosley insisted the WMSC’s decision was “entirely fair.”

He added: “They (McLaren) have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it’s all different to what it was.

“In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter.”

Asked whether Hamilton could again dream of retaining his crown, despite the team’s troubled start to the season on and off the track, Mosley added: “Yes, and it may not be a dream.

“Don’t underestimate the speed with which McLaren will get themselves sorted out. They are a very powerful organisation.”

The WMSC confirmed the suspension will be applied “if further facts emerge regarding the case, or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.”

Denying McLaren had got off lightly, Mosley added: “I don’t think so because in the end there were decisions taken by people who are no longer involved, and that being the case it would have been unfair to have gone on with the matter.

“They did suffer because they lost all their points from Australia, so I think we’re done and it’s fair.”

Hamilton was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.

Hamilton and Ryan, since sacked as McLaren sporting director, insisted at the time no order was relayed from the team demanding he allow Trulli to pass.

However, evidence in the form of pit-to-car transmissions and an interview Hamilton gave immediately after the race contradicted their story, and resulted in the case being reopened.

Deciding they had been “deliberately misled”, the stewards at the Malaysian Grand Prix disqualified Hamilton and McLaren from the classification in Melbourne.

Ryan was soon suspended, whilst Hamilton apologised for his actions in an unprecedented manner as he was allowed to use the FIA press conference room in Sepang - where he also notably blamed Ryan.

But the most signficant step was taken by Ron Dennis who announced with immediate effect his decision to stand down as CEO of McLaren Racing, and who is to stand down as chairman of the McLaren Group from June 1.

In taking up the running of the automotive side of the company, Dennis insisted his motive had nothing to do with F1.

Many observers, though, felt his action was designed to appease the FIA - with whom he has often had a fractious relationship - and to save McLaren, a team he had built up since taking over in 1981.

Since then, Whitmarsh has acted to build bridges and foster a far more harmonious relationship with the FIA than has previously been the case.

“Martin Whitmarsh made a very good impression. He is absolutely straightforward and wants to work with us,” confirmed Mosley.

“We’re all trying to do the same thing, which is to make the championship successful and hope the best team wins.

“I think Martin fully understands that, and the World Council reacted accordingly.”

As Mosley added, if only such action, and that ’sorry’ word been used more often a couple of years ago then “it would have saved everybody, including McLaren, a lot of time, trouble and money.”

“They made things very difficult for themselves back then. This time I think they got the message, and they’ve done a very good job.”

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as “good, fair, honest and straight.”

A typically direct Ecclestone then added: “I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn’t have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap.

“But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They’ve had enough punishment.”

On his 51st birthday, Whitmarsh said: “We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.

“I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again.”

McLaren and Williams failed to make the podium but all four drivers feel confident going forward to the next race.

Lewis Hamilton: “It was a very tough call because you could only see the clouds, and then some parts of the track were wetter than others so it was hard to commit.

When the rain came down, it was impossible to drive. I was aquaplaning everywhere - these were the most dangerous conditions I’ve ever raced in. All I could do was try and keep the car on the track. It was the correct decision to stop the race because it was just too dangerous for everyone.

I love it when it rains, but this was just too much.”

Heikki Kovalainen: My start was okay.I was taking it quite carefully and was trying to slot in behind Lewis, then I just lost the rear and spun out. It was my mistake. Game over.”

Nico Rosberg: “I took the lead off the start and it is a while since Williams have been out the front on pure performance and I have to thank the engineers for that.

The car was going really well and I showed my ability to consistently push on each lap and open the gap to those behind me. And then the rain came and unfortunately the situation just didn’t go our way.

But we got something out of the day and our car is right up there, so we will be looking to get the points we deserve next time out.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “I had wheelspin of the line and I dropped quite a few positions to the KERS cars around me, and I ended up behind Piquet and I struggled to get past.

This affected my plan as I dropped quite a lot of time behind him and then of course the weather came along and it was impossible to make a totally correct decision with the changing conditions.

It was the right thing ultimately to red flag the race and it was no surprise that we didn’t restart.”

Lewis Hamilton faces being suspended or disqualified from the Formula One world championship after lying to FIA stewards.

Just four days after one of the drives of his career to finish third in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton was today excluded from the classification.

Hamilton was elevated from fourth to third by the stewards due to Jarno Trulli being handed a 25-second penalty for passing the reigning world champion behind the safety car late on.

But in the light of further evidence, notably radio transmissions between Hamilton and the pit wall, and in an interview given by the 24-year-old soon after race, he has been caught out.

Hamilton and McLaren have been accused of acting “in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards” at the hearing on Sunday.

In re-opening the investigation, stewards at a further hearing in Malaysia ahead of Sunday’s race at the Sepang circuit have taken the appropriate sanction against Hamilton they felt was necessary.

However, the situation contravenes the International Sporting Code and is viewed as so grave that the FIA have it within their power to pursue the matter further.

A FIA spokesperson confirmed: “Given the seriousness of this matter, we cannot rule out further action at this stage.”

As Hamilton has been excluded from the race at Melbourne’s Albert Park, should motor sport’s world governing body take up the case, only two additional punishments are open to them.

One would be to suspend Hamilton from a further race or races, or alternatively they could disqualify him from the championship altogether.

In an effort to be more open and transparent this year in relation to decisions taken by the stewards, the FIA are now publishing the key considerations of their findings.

On Sunday, the stewards did not have the benefit of radio exchanges or comments from Hamilton to the media, and instead acted solely on video footage.

In their submissions, they note: “During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the stewards and the race director (Charlie Whiting) questioned Lewis Hamilton and his team manager, David Ryan, specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake.

“Both the driver and team manager stated no such instruction had been given.

“The race director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted he had not done so.

“The new elements presented to the stewards several days after the 2009 Australian Grand Prix which led to the reconvened stewards’ meeting clearly show that:

“a. Immediately after the race and before Lewis Hamilton attended the stewards’ meeting he gave an interview to the media where he clearly stated the team had told him to let Trulli pass.

“b. Furthermore, the radio exchanges between the driver and the team contain two explicit orders from the team to let the Toyota pass.”

To lend weight to their case against Hamilton, the FIA have also included the audio clips of the interview and radio exchange.

In the interview Hamilton explains: “I was behind Trulli under the safety car, and clearly you are not allowed to overtake under the safety car, but he went off at the second to last corner.

“He went wide onto the grass. I guess his tyres were cold, and I was forced to go by. I had slowed down as much as I could.”

Crucially, Hamilton adds: “I was told to let him back past, but I don’t know if that’s within the regulations, and if it isn’t then I should have had third.”

With regard to the radio transmission, that went as follows:

Hamilton: “The Toyota went off in a line at the second to last corner. I overtook him, is this okay?’

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

Hamilton: “He was off the track. He went wide.

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

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has made it clear there will be no appeal, although has jumped to Hamilton’s defence, insisting he did not lie.

Speaking before the FIA made public their findings, Whitmarsh said: “There is no implication Lewis lied to the stewards.

“I think he answered the questions put to him in an honest manner but, according to the stewards, the team should have provided a fuller account of what happened.”

Attempting to explain his team’s version of events, Whitmarsh added: “During the closing stages of the race there was a safety car incident whereby Jarno Trulli fell off the circuit and Lewis could legitimately pass him. I don’t think that is in question.

“Of course, the team could not see it. Lewis informed the team that he had passed Trulli - and there was understandably concern within the team he had passed Trulli under a safety car.

“At that time, we did not know Trulli was right off the circuit and Lewis was asked to give back the place to Trulli.

“That was a team view, having not seen it, and we thought it was the safest thing to do.

“Once that instruction was given to Lewis, he did not agree. He said: ‘Look, the guy was off the circuit, I don’t need to do this’.

“A discussion was occurring and before that was finished, Trulli had re-passed.

“At the stewards’ meeting, we mistakenly believed the stewards were aware, Charlie [Whiting] was there, and the FIA was there, of that radio conversation.

“The stewards now believe we were not explicit enough about that radio conversation, and felt therefore that was prejudicial to the decision that they reached.

“Obviously we regret that, and that was a mistake by the team, but we have got to accept the decision that has now been made.”

Insisting it was “a regrettable day”, Whitmarsh remarked: “It’s a harsh decision.

“But I think experience has told us that you have to accept these decisions and these things that come along, and you focus on this weekend and the races beyond that.”

has dismissed Lewis Hamilton’s pledge to see out his Formula One career at McLaren.

Coulthard, who brought his long career to a close at last week’s Brazilian Grand Prix, insists Hamilton’s loyalty could turn out to be misplaced if his team heads towards a dip in form. He has urged the newly-crowned world champion to concentrate on his immediate future.

Coulthard told BBC Radio 5Live’s Sportsweek programme: “In terms of trying to achieve wins it would be silly of him to stay there if the car wasn’t performing.

“He wants to win grands prix and you would expect him to say that right now because they’re on top of the world.

“But I don’t think he needs to talk about the future beyond enjoying this World Championship at this moment and the battle of retaining that championship next year. None of us knows what the future holds.”

Coulthard also leapt to the defence of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone who has been criticised for dismissing an incident in which Spanish fans blackened their faces as “a bit of a joke”.

Ecclestone has subsequently cleared the air with Hamilton and Coulthard said: “I don’t think for one moment Bernie cares at all what colour the driver is or where he comes from or anything like that.

“It’s fantastic for Formula One that Lewis has won the World Championships, he’s the youngest driver and the first black driver. This just opens up new areas for Bernie to exploit in the long term.

“So I think he’s the wrong person to be singled out to try and make out as if he’s not sensitive to the issue. Bernie is just someone who doesn’t like to build issues up and make a big story out of it.”

Anti-racism campaigners have branded Bernie Ecclestone’s comments on the racist abuse of Lewis Hamilton as “shameful”.

Ecclestone described the antics of some spectators wearing wigs and dark make-up at pre-season testing in Barcelona last February as “a joke” and told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I don’t think it was anything to do with racism.”

Hamilton, the first black driver in Formula One history, has refused to trivialise what happened and Paul Elliott, ambassador for European campaigners FARE, has gone further to question whether Ecclestone should be in the sport. He said: “The comments are shameful and disgraceful.”

He added: “Lewis Hamilton has made a colossal contribution to the country and the sport, and the sport has a duty of care to protect him and his family.

“Bernie Ecclestone is not fit to be in that environment and he should resign.

“There has to be zero tolerance. However successful he (Ecclestone) is, it is clear he is out of touch with the 21st century. It is totally out of order, unacceptable and he should move over.”

Elliott feels Hamilton should work under the same laws as the rest of the country, where racism is not tolerated.

“Hamilton should be working in a racism-free environment, as should his father,” he added.

“He has a right to be protected.

“Ecclestone is an investor in QPR Football Club, who have a diverse support. What are their players thinking now? If they got racial abuse, would he say that is acceptable in the modern game?”