Hamilton joke accepted by stewards

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's Ali G joke was accepted by the Monaco stewards after Hamilton returned to see the stewards for a second time after yesterday's Grand Prix.

'Maybe it's because I'm black. That's what Ali G says.' Hamilton joked after the race with BBC's Lee McKenzie when asked why he thought he was penalised so frequently by the stewards (he has met with the stewards post-race following five of this seasons six races).

Hamilton was left frustrated after serving a drive through penalty after crashing into Felipe Massa and a subsequent post-race 20 second penalty after colliding with Pastor Maldonado during the closing stages of the race.

'Immediately after the race Lewis was very down, and during a post-race TV interview he made a poor joke about his penalties that referenced Ali G.' McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh told the BBC.

'However, I'm pleased to say that he chose to return to the track a little while later to speak to the stewards about the joke. They accepted his explanation.

'I guess the reality is that, if you start anywhere other than at the front of the grid here in Monte Carlo, you're always going to run the risk of getting involved in incidents - especially if, like Lewis, you're a forceful driver who never, ever, gives up.

'But that's Lewis. That's why he's such a fantastic driver - and that's why watching him race is so thrilling. So, yes, he's disappointed, because he's been seriously quick all weekend here, but that's Monte-Carlo; that's racing; that's life.'

Massa and Maldonado were less forgiving however.

The Ferrari driver told Autosport Magazine: 'He tried to pass me on the kerbs [when] I didn't think it was possible to overtake, He was too aggressive, I think.

'Then when I got to the tunnel my car was damaged and I went on the dirty part of the track and hit the wall. What he did today was unbelievable. Not just with me, but with other drivers as well.

The Williams driver added: 'It's always difficult to overtake there, you must be side-by-side and he wasn't. I think he was too optimistic because of the condition of the race. He was on the super-soft option tyres.'