Hamilton confident McLaren will be cleared in 'spy' row

Lewis Hamilton is confident McLaren will be exonerated at next week’s hearing into the Formula One ’spy’ scandal such is his belief in the “honesty” of boss Ron Dennis and the team.

Hamilton and McLaren face the prospect of having points docked, being banned from a number of races, or even thrown out of the championship if they are found guilty of breaking FIA rules.

The team face an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sports Council in Paris next Thursday when they will answer a charge pertaining to ’fraudulent conduct’.

The WMSC want to know how suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan came to be in “unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to Ferrari”.

Dennis has steadfastly maintained his and his team’s innocence in the whole affair since news broke of Coughlan’s suspension on July 3.

He has insisted 780 pages of Ferrari technical documents were “only in the possession of one currently suspended employee” – namely Coughlan.

However, it is alleged other members of McLaren were aware of the documents - including CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

Although Coughlan was apparently urged to destroy the files, it is a question of when the other team personnel knew he had them in his possession.

But Hamilton, whose 12-point lead over team-mate Fernando Alonso could potentially be wiped out if the FIA see fit, today insisted: “I have a huge amount of belief in the team.

“Although I’ve not really thought it, and it’s not something I really need to focus on, I’m very confident its going to go well, so it is not really playing on my mind at all.”

Hamilton admits he has not discussed the matter with anyone within the team, but fully believes in Dennis’ stance.

“I know the team are working hard on it,” added Hamilton.

“I’ve only been with the grand prix team a year, but I have known Ron nine years and this is something he would never do.

“That’s why I have such great belief in the team. I do feel they are one of the most honest teams out there.

“There are always teams trying to bend the rules in some way, but I honestly believe we are the most honest. For me, I believe we will be all right.”

For reigning world champion Alonso, it is a case of ’whatever will be will be’ at the FIA headquarters on the Place de la Concorde.

“We are not thinking too much about next week,” commented Alonso.

“We don’t know the full history and we don’t have the full information.

“So as a driver we will try to stay away from that, to concentrate and approach the weekend in a very normal way with the engineers, thinking about the set-up of the car.

“What will happen will happen anyway, and they (the WMSC) will decide whatever they think is the good thing, so as a driver we don’t care.”

Hamilton’s primary concern for now is overcoming a bout of ’flu that has laid him low these past few days and being fit for the European Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 22-year-old still did the usual round of Thursday interviews at the Nurburgring, but was then whisked off to bed to continue his recovery.

“I’ve just caught a bit of ’flu, but it’s okay. I’m really up for it,” said Hamilton.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. The worst of it was earlier on in the week.

“Trust me, I’m a lot better now than I was on Monday. I’ve got some good medicine, I’m with a good team, so I’m sure there will be no problems.”

After an aggressive approach at the start of the season as he came into the sport as ’the new kid on the block’, Hamilton concedes he has a different mentality now he is championship leader.

“It’s a question of attacking and defending,” added Hamilton.

“For sure I am the target, I have always been one. I now have to focus even more to maintain the level of performance.

“Consistency is what is involved, so it is important not to take unnecessary risks and continually get podiums.

“At the end of the day the person who is the most consistent is the one who will do it.”