Sachin creates history in London

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian sports icon to be featured at the Madame Tussaud's wax museum.
The world renowned tourist attraction in London flewn its new wax figure of the Indian batting legend over 7,000 kilometers to Mumbai for a "meeting" with the real cricketing legend.

"I am very impressed with the figure and delighted to be honoured by Madame Tussauds," commented Terndulkar.

"It is the first time we have ever launched a figure overseas but we really wanted Sachin to see his likeness before it "meets" the public in the attraction," said Liz Edwards, PR Manager at Madame Tussauds London.

"The figure will now be returning to London to join the ranks of sporting greats past and present in our Sports Zone. There will also be a cricketing challenge around the figure where guests can test their skills against the `masterblaster` and we know it will be a huge hit with fans," Edwards was quoted.

Sally Chatterjee, Interim CEO, Visit London said, "London and India share a great passion for cricket and we are delighted that Madame Tussauds has unveiled a figure of Sachin Tendulkar. With the ICC World Twenty20 coming to London this June more cricket fans will have the opportunity to come face to face with one of their sporting heroes."

Cesc wants unbeaten run

Captain Cesc Fabregas wants Arsenal to go unbeaten until the end of the campaign in a bid to silence their critics.

The Gunners have failed to mount a serious Premier League title challenge this term, but are in the FA Cup semi-finals and in a strong position to reach the same stage of the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger's men have not lost in the league since November after a period when William Gallas was replaced by Fabregas as the club's captain.

Fabregas has recently returned from almost four months out with a knee injury and is now eager to finish the season in a positive fashion.

"It's quite good what we have done, but it is not enough," said Fabregas. "We want to go all the way.

"We have said to ourselves we do not want to lose another game before the end of the season and that's what we will try to do. Of course, we cannot say for definite that will happen. But that's the aim, for sure. That has been our intention.

"We have done it during the past few weeks. We just need to keep it going for a few weeks more."

Arsenal face Villarreal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday with the tie at 1-1 before meeting Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Title contenders Liverpool await in the Premier League next week and Fabregas is looking forward to the upcoming fixtures.

He added: "It is a good 10 days we have coming up now. We will play three very important matches for the players and the club that will decide our season and where we can go.

"I'm very confident that if we keep going and playing like we are doing, we can do well.

"We have been playing quite well throughout the whole season, yet for some reason some people decided to go a little bit against us. Some people tried to create a little bit of a bad atmosphere.

"We can answer them by winning things and that's what we are aiming to do over the remainder of the season. That's why these next few days are key for us.

"We have Villarreal in the Champions League, then Chelsea, an amazing team, in the FA Cup semi-final. We still have a big say in the season."

Is Loeb Motorsports' greatest?

In Engine Block’s “Rumble Strip” this week, we ask: Can WRC driving legend Sebastien Loeb rival Motorsports' greatest?

Fifty-one wins from 117 races, 5 consecutive championships from 2004 to 2008 and every other record you can think of in rally racing. To say Sebastien Loeb came into the motorsports scene with a bang is an understatement conquering the Junior World Rally Championship as a rookie in 2001 and progressing straight away to the main series the following year. The Frenchman just narrowly missed winning his first WRC title in 2003, relinquishing the crown to Norway's Petter Solberg by a mere point, but his prowess has been indomitable since.

Loeb's driving supremacy extends to open-wheel where he's posted competitive lap times in testing compared to F1 drivers. The rally specialist has in fact beaten the best of the best in every imaginable racing discipline winning the prestigious Race of Champions event three times, more than any other driver, the formidable Michael Schumacher included.

Yet, in a world where image rules, Loeb is overshadowed by personalities with a penchant for over-the-top drama. Despite his potential for being hailed the greatest driver, he remains hugely under the radar. Still, his many accomplishments speak for itself. Can the Frenchman be considered motorsports greatest?

Nadal to defend Queen's Club title

World number one Rafael Nadal is set to defend his title at the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club in London in June.

The Spaniard warmed up for his maiden Wimbledon triumph last summer by beating Novak Djokovic in the final, and now joins the line-up for the 2009 event alongside Britain's Andy Murray.

Nadal told aegonchampionships.com: "It is nice to come back to a place where you are the last champion.

"The AEGON Championships and Wimbledon are both very traditional tournaments and I love to play these two tournaments. To arrive as the last champion is going to be a really nice experience.

"You feel like you are in a club, a real tennis club, so that always is really nice.

"Playing (the AEGON Championships) means that you are already in London, the courts are in perfect condition like at Wimbledon and so it is always a pleasure to play there.

"The atmosphere is always really good and the crowd has always been really nice with me."

Federer heads to Monaco

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer has decided to accept a wild card to play in next week's Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

The world number two had initially left the first big clay court event of the season off his schedule but has now changed his mind.

Federer has again failed to recover his dominance of previous years and is yet to win a title this season.

The Swiss star told www.rogerfederer.com: "I have decided to accept a wildcard into the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament that begins on Monday. I will head there this weekend to start the clay court season."

Federer's great rival Rafael Nadal will be going for a fifth straight title when play begins on Sunday.

News agencies to cover IPL

All the major news agencies are set to cover the IPL after it has relaxed stringent media guidelines for covering the event.

The news agencies including Reuters and AP are now preparing to cover the mega tournament in South Africa.

A clause that barred news organisations from distributing news and photographs to specialised cricket websites has been removed after the negotiations.

The News Media Coalition (NMC), on behalf of media interests worldwide, had been in discussion with the IPL regarding the media accreditation arrangements.

Andrew Moger, executive director of the NMC told a cricket website: "It will bring a resolution to the difficult conversations we have had."

He further added in a statement: "The outcome allows us to provide coverage of what promises to be a news-worthy spectacle. We are grateful for the time that the IPL's officers have put into our successful dialogue."

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the global news media industry. This will now allow IPL fans across the world to gain access to the festival of sport and entertainment that is set to unfold here in South Africa over the next few weeks.

"It was always our intention to give an event like the IPL its proper due by having it covered by the world's media. We are pleased to have reached this agreement."

"Cricket dying, needs T20 for survival"

Legendary West Indian batsman Brian Lara feels cricket is a "dying sport", which has got a fresh lease of life in Twenty20.

Twenty20 is a format that has revived the spectators' interest in the game.

"Cricket is a dying sport and I believe that Twenty20 is going to be beneficial for many reasons," Lara said.

"This new game has brought a different spectator. Not necessarily the right ones I think. But at the end of the day, spectators and television is what make sport and I'm very happy and very welcoming of the Twenty20 game," he was quoted as saying by the 'Jamaica Observer'.

Lara, who has scored 400 runs in an innings and played two seasons for the rebel Indian Cricket League, urged the batsmen to develop attractive shots suited to Twenty20 instead of trying to whack every ball out of the ground.

"I hope that we do see a little bit of artistry because right now it's a lot of 'wam-bam thank you ma'am'.
"I believe that at some point in time people are going to understand that there are tactical ways of playing it and then you are going to see the true talent," he said.

Benitez to risk injured Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be in the squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn.

The 28-year-old has undergone scans on a thigh strain sustained in Wednesday night's 3-1 Champions League defeat to Chelsea, and had been doubtful for the weekend and next week's second leg.

The club announced on their website on Friday that Gerrard will be in the squad for Saturday, but it is unclear whether he will be able to start.

Benitez told the website: "Steven has some problems with his adductor. He will be in the squad but we still have to decide whether he will start.

"It is not very serious but we need to analyse the risk for the future as well. We know it's a very important game, so we'll decide tomorrow.

"We have to think about the best for Stevie and the team - both things together.

"This is a very important game, so we know it will be really good if he can play. But if we were to lose him for the next few weeks it could be a big risk.

"I will talk with him and the doctor on Saturday morning before deciding."

Ferguson wants it fast and furious

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Man United to go "full throttle" in their attempt to overcome FC Porto at Old Trafford.

Although the Portuguese outfit overcame United at the first knock-out stage in 2004, few are expecting a repeat, with Ferguson's men odds-on favourites to reach their third successive semi-final.

But the Red Devils chief is taking nothing for granted. And even though his side are back in action barely 48 hours after the thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa, he is demanding that they hold nothing back.

"It would be stupid to think this is going to be easy," said Ferguson.

"When teams are used to winning their domestic title, as Porto are in Portugal, you always feel they will play with great confidence.

"They have a lot of South Americans in their team as well, which gives them a great physical strength.

"By beating Atletico Madrid in the last round, Porto proved they will be hard to beat. Complacency does not come into it as far as we are concerned.

"We will be going at full throttle in order to get the result we want."

United will be bolstered by the return of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes from suspension, although not Rio Ferdinand, who is still troubled by a groin injury.

As well as that trio, Ferguson is likely to call on Park Ji-Sung, whose energy could be a useful weapon.

However, the majority of Ferguson's starting line-up will be asked to follow up from Sunday, ensuring there was only time for a massage and a few loosening exercises in training on Monday morning.

Cristiano Ronaldo is certain to be a key figure, although he once again was forced to state how happy he is at Old Trafford amid fresh reports of a potential summer move to Real Madrid.

"We always have this question," he grumbled, with Ferguson adding the continued speculation was "pathetic" before Ronaldo delivered his well-rehearsed response.

"I am happy at this club. I think it is the right club," said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is more interested in continuing the major role he played against Villa, when his two-goal haul took his seasonal tally to 20.

United are now a point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand and the Portuguese confidently stated: "We are the best team in England.

"We have shown that by being top of the table. That speaks for itself.

"We respect all our opponents but if we carry on winning, we will win the title again."

Indeed, United are still on track to record an unprecedented quintuple, with Ronaldo not quite being as dismissive about the project as Ferguson.

"We have a chance to win everything this season," said Ronaldo.

"First we have to beat FC Porto. After that, we must carry on."

India claim historic series win

India are celebrating their first series win in New Zealand since 1968 after the third Test against the hosts ended in a draw.

The final day of the last Test of the series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington was disrupted by bad weather allowing the hosts to salvage a draw after being set an impossible target of 617 runs for victory.

Rain plays spoilsport

The rain forced the teams off 30 minutes into the afternoon session with New Zealand 281 for eight, still 336 runs short, and play was finally called off two hours 20 minutes later at 4.31pm local time with 57.3 overs remaining.

Daniel Vettori was 15 not out and Iain O'Brien unbeaten on 19.

India win the series 1-0 following their comprehensive 10-wicket win in Hamilton and the draw in Napier.

They were on course for another emphatic victory in Wellington after making 379 in their first innings then bowling the Black Caps out for 197.

Skipper MS Dhoni declared their second innings at 434 for seven midway through the morning session on day four, leaving the New Zealanders a mammoth run chase they never looked likely to achieve.

Ross Taylor was again the top scorer for the Black Caps with 107 following on from his first innings of 42.

Martin Guptill and James Franklin both scored 49 for the only other scores of note in the second innings.

Indian bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh were New Zealand's chief tormentors, although Sachin Tendulkar's introduction was lucrative with the little master taking two wickets for 26 runs in his six-over spell before lunch.

Khan finished with match figures of seven for 122 off 37.3 overs after taking five for 65 in the first innings. Harbhajan ended with seven for 102 off 56 overs after taking four for 59 in New Zealand's second innings.

Taylor (69) and Franklin (26) resumed in windy, overcast conditions when play began half-an-hour early following Monday's early finish.

Top Performer: Ross Taylor

The pair added a further 59 runs to the overnight score of 167 for four before Taylor was bowled by Harbhajan for 107.

The pair put on 142 runs in total, the highest fifth-wicket partnership by New Zealanders against India.

Taylor brought up his fourth Test century with a four down fine leg - his fourth boundary of the morning and 15th in total.

But two overs later he was cleaned bowled by the off-spinner to leave New Zealand on 226 for five, still needing 391 to win.

Brendon McCullum (six) went shortly afterwards, caught by Rahul Dravid via the gloves of Dhoni off the bowling of Sachin Tendulkar, although TV replays appeared to show the ball missing the edge of the bat.

It's all about numbers!

The part-time spinner would have had the Black Caps vice-captain out without scoring had Munaf Patel made the catch at mid-off a few overs earlier.

Tendulkar bowled a good six-over spell, snaring two wickets for 26 runs, and caused Franklin, who survived an lbw shout by Khan early in the day, some problems before he finally got the all-rounder leg before wicket one run shy of his third half-century.

By lunch the hosts had reached 254 for seven, still requiring 363 to win.

Tim Southee (three) lasted 13 balls before being given out caught behind by Dhoni off Harbhajan, although the tail-ender seemed to hit his pad, not the ball, with his bat.

It was the last meaningful act of the Test as the rain arrived to spare New Zealand's blushes.

Mortaza excited about playing in IPL

Bangladesh pace spearhead Mashrafe Mortaza said he is ready to take the responsibility and give his best in the IPL.

In the absence of Pakistani speedsters Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar, Mortaza said he is all set to play his role for the Kolkata Knight Riders during IPL, beginning in South Africa from April 18.

"I'm really excited to play with Ganguly"

"It feels great that I've got a chance to play for a strong side like the Kolkata Knight Riders. I am confident of myself. I am sure it won't be a problem to take the responsibility and perform. I will be playing in the IPL for the first time," said Mortaza, who has played two Tests and two ODIs in South Africa last year.

The Kolkata Knight Riders USD 600,000 catch this season, said he was looking forward to meet Sourav Ganguly and receive his value tips.

"I will play with a great cricketer like Ganguly. I'm really excited to play with him. Obviously, he will give me some tips when I meet him in a one-on-one," Mortaza told reporters here before leaving for South Africa.

"My confidence definitely will get a boost in playing with big cricketers in the IPL," he added.

But Mortaza lamented that the Knight Riders would not be playing in their home town.

"We will miss playing in Kolkata. There would have been many supporters here to cheer us on. But at the same time, I feel the tournament will be equally successful in South Africa." He said the tournament was very popular in Bangladesh and his inclusion in the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side would add to his popularity at home.

"He (Shah Rukh) is very popular in Bangladesh. Last year people prefered the IPL to international matches. Not only Bangladesh, the world follows the tournament. Obviously, with me playing, the IPL fan following in Bangladesh will increase."

"This time KKR team is much stronger"

Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle spoke to Manish Porwal and Ashok Mallik in STAR Cricket's Money Talks about Knight Riders.

IPL is not silly money, it is a serious franchise.

Cricket and Bollywood have always been very important in India but now they have merged effortlessly.

"Our bowling resources are fairly strong"

"IPL was meant to be hard core business for India Cements and GMR, and that's where it delivered," said Porwal, CEO, Percept Talent Management.

It was something that was waiting to happen.

"Big players gave money to franchisees as they wanted to get the particular team they wanted," Porwal said.

"There is a certain amount of vanity in saying 'I own a team'," pointed out Mallik, a senior journalist.

For KKR, Shah Rukh Khan brought endorsements, deals and a fan base that went beyond the city of Kolkata. He brought back the club culture to the City of Joy, a frenzy that was on the verge of disappearance.

KKR had enough ammunition in 2008 to lead it to the top but ended up sixth on the points table with six victories out of 11 matches.

However, Joy Bhattacharya, KKR manager, said that this time the team is much stronger than the last season.

"Our bowling resources are fairly strong. We also have Ajantha Mendis for the entire season this year. In terms of batting, we would have the services of Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge throughout and Chris Gayle for sometime."

Mortaza excited about playing in IPL

When asked about the whole effort to include Bangladeshi seamer Mushrafa Mortaza in the team, Bhattacharya said that it was entirely a monetary based decision that was made by Shah Rukh.

It was the last spot left and they had decided it would be Mortaza.

The Sourav Ganguly led team is the most flamboyant in the IPL.

The coming weeks will show how the Knight Riders perform with the strong line-up they have.

India close in on historic win

Gautam Gambhir hit 167 as India put themselves on course to a historic series triumph by taking a massive 531-run lead.

India turned the screws on day three of the third and final Test against the Black Caps to close in on their first series win in New Zealand in over 40 years.

Resuming on 51 for one, already 233 runs ahead, India piled on the misery for the New Zealanders as they racked up 349 runs for the loss of five wickets at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

That gave them a mammoth lead of 531 runs when bad light ended play early and with just two days remaining it left the visitors nicely poised to wrap up the series with ease after their comprehensive 10-wicket win in the first Test in Hamilton.

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid added 170 runs for the second wicket which effectively took the game away from New Zealand as their bowlers, particularly Tim Southee, found it tough going.

It was the 76th time Dravid had been involved in a century stand - a record for any batsman.

But the Black Caps enjoyed a profitable spell immediately after lunch with Daniel Vettori snaring the wickets of Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who made a 20-ball nine, as India went from 170 for one at lunch to 208 for three.

Dravid was dismissed on 60 after reaching his 57th Test half-century shortly before the interval. His 145-ball innings included 10 boundaries and was his fourth fifty of the series.

Gambhir and Laxman however, ploughed on to take India to 314 before both fell in quick succession once the second new ball had been taken.

Top Performer: Gautam Gambhir

Having reached 151 shortly before tea, Gambhir added a further 16 runs in the final session before he was trapped lbw by Iain O'Brien which brought to an end an impressive 257-ball innings that included 16 boundaries and two sixes.

O'Brien then struck again in his next over to dismiss Laxman (61), who had brought up his 39th half-century - and third in four innings - three overs previously.

That left India 319 for five, 501 runs ahead. Captain MS Dhoni (16 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (15 no) saw the visitors through to the close.

In a circumspect start Gambhir, who began the day on 28, took 75 balls to reach his 51, which included seven boundaries.

But he upped the tempo after morning drinks, finding the rope a further five times and hitting a six off O'Brien to be on 96 by lunch as the Indians ended the morning session on 170 for one, 352 runs ahead.

The opener brought up his second ton in as many Test matches, and his sixth overall, in the second over after lunch, sending Southee's first ball after the break out to the boundary rope.

The very next over Dravid (60) was dismissed by a smart bit of fielding by Brendon McCullum. The wicket-keeper anticipated a paddle sweep down leg side by the right-hander and put himself in a good position to claim the catch to the disbelief of the batsman.

It's all about numbers!

It was Vettori's first wicket of the Test and he quickly doubled his tally when Ross Taylor took a superb diving catch in the slips to dismiss Tendulkar.

After the fall of the wicket, New Zealand managed to restrict the run-flow for a while with Laxman taking 14 deliveries to get off the mark.

But by tea Laxman and Gambhir had put on 61 runs and the latter had made 151 as the Indians reached 269 for three to be 451 runs ahead.

Laxman's eighth boundary then got him to 53 off 104 deliveries, although he survived a scare on 49 when Jesse Ryder failed to hold onto a catch from in close.

And a few overs later he was heading back to the dressing room. Vettori (two for 88 off 29 overs) and O'Brien (two for 77 off 22) were the day's only wicket-takers and along with Chris Martin, who had Virender Sehwag caught by Taylor the previous evening, shouldered most of the work.

Southee struggled again and went for an expensive 58 runs off 12 overs, while James Franklin (none for 50 off 13) and Ryder (none for 21 off six) were given limited opportunity with the ball.

Fergie: Rooney row is nonsense!

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branded claims that he had a row with Wayne Rooney as 'absolute nonsense'.

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson suggested Ferguson had a bust-up with Rooney following last month's 4-1 home defeat to title rivals Liverpool .

The England international was then handed a second yellow card in United's 2-0 loss at Fulham after he had been left out of the starting XI.

Lawrenson said: "Everybody knows he had a massive row with Fergie after the Liverpool game and was then left out against Fulham.

"It is an ongoing problem, but if anyone can deal with it, it is Sir Alex."

Ferguson, though, has dismissed the suggestions outright, with the Scot keen to focus his side on their vital Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

The Red Devils chief said: "I was made aware of it. Absolute nonsense.

"I don't know where that came from, but the revealing part of it is 'everybody knows', but I didn't know and I was in there.

"These people self-promote but who the hell's bothered about it?

"Nobody followed it up which tells you everything because if there was any truth you'd have found out."

Benitez sends United warning

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned Manchester United that the World Cup break will not break the Reds' momentum.

According to the Sun, Benitez is convinced the two-week gap will have no bearing on Liverpool's hopes of catching United.

Liverpool are in a rich vein of form at the moment after scoring 13 goals in their last three games - including a four-goal romp at Old Trafford.

He insisted: "We were playing very well before the break, that is true.

"Now we have to start again. We want to pick up where we left things and carry on winning.

"We've every confidence it will be the same when we get everyone back.

"I am really positive when I think about the rest of the season."

Kirsten denies Eng coach rumours

India coach Gary Kirsten quashed speculations that he is a front-running probable among English coach candidates.
"I am not a candidate," he was quoted as saying by the 'cricinfo' on the sidelines of Indian team's practice session here ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.

BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan also refused to comment on the reports, saying it was all "speculation by the UK media".

Leading British daily 'The Guardian' today claimed Kirsten was a "potential front-runner" to succeed Peter Moores ahead of the Ashes against Australia.

Flower also a front-runner

"In addition to (Andy) Flower, India's coach, Gary Kirsten, who is soon to be out of contract, has emerged as a potential front-runner," the paper said.

The newspaper also claimed that a four-man ECB panel would interview the candidates on the shortlist at a secret location in the UK.

Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, was also linked to the England job though he said that he remained committed to his national contract till 2011.

"We have had a robust and transparent process. We are pleased with those who have applied. Our interview process will begin when we get home at the weekend with a view to appointing the permanent post before the West Indies series," Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, told reporters in St Lucia yesterday.

Hamilton stripped of third place

FIA has announced that McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has lost the third position he won at last weekend's Australian GP.

Hamilton and McLaren have been disqualified after race stewards decided that the reigning world champion had deliberately misled them when providing evidence about an incident that saw him passed by Jarno Trulli during a safety car period.

The Italian was handed a 25-second penalty following the incident on lap 57 at Melbourne, which relegated him from third to 12th in the final classification and saw Hamilton promoted from fourth to third.

But both drivers were called before the stewards in Sepang today to address new evidence on the incident.

Following the hearing, the stewards decided to reinstate Trulli's third place and to sanction Hamilton and McLaren by excluding them from the race classification.

They explained their decision in a statement, which read: "The stewards having considered the new elements presented to them from the 2009 Australian Formula One Grand Prix, consider that driver No 1 Lewis Hamilton and the competitor Vodafone McLaren Mercedes acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the Stewards at the hearing on Sunday 29th March 2009, a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

"Under Article 158 of the International Sporting Code the driver No 1 Lewis Hamilton and the competitor Vodafone McLaren Mercedes are excluded from the race classification for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix and the classification is amended accordingly."

McLaren have decided not to appeal the decision although team principal Martin Whitmarsh was not pleased with the stewards' decision

"Obviously we are disappointed by what happened but in the circumstances, we are not going to appeal," he said.

"As we see it, during the closing stages of the race under difficult conditions, there was a safety car incident where Trulli fell off the circuit and Lewis legitimately passed.

"Lewis didn't do anything abnormal and it was clear Trulli shouldn't have passed him.

"But we have to accept the decision."

It has been suggested that the FIA arrived at the decision because McLaren withheld information about a radio conversation that took place between Hamilton and the pit during the course of the incident.

"What I understand is that there's a belief that the team was not explicit enough in terms of the content of the radio conversations," Whitmarsh continued.

"We don't believe that those radio conversations had an effect on the fact that he was passed by Trulli under a safety car period.

"The problem is that the stewards believe that the team was not explicit enough in releasing that information. We don't think that affected the outcome of their (original) decision.

"I believe that it was a harsh decision. I think the facts of the case are that Lewis made a legitimate pass and subsequently was re-passed.

"We felt that the decision of the stewards in the immediate aftermath of the race was fair but the stewards now believe that the radio conversation - that was listened to and heard by the FIA - because it was not sufficiently contained in the submission that we made and that we withheld that was the reason that they came to their decision today.

"As you would imagine Lewis is extremely disappointed.

"It's a harsh decision but I think that experience has told us that you have to accept these decisions and these things that come along and you focus on the this weekend and the races beyond that."