Despite trying to quash conspiracy theories, one of the three stewards involved in the Lewis Hamilton penalty controversy has given an unfortunate quote to the press.

We reported earlier this week that Surinder Thati, who signed off on the McLaren driver's post-race penalty that cost Hamilton his Belgian GP victory, denied the decision was made with a pro-Ferrari bias.

But Thati, of Kenya, only added fuel to the fire when he also spoke with his country's Daily Nation newspaper.

"The British press hate me," he said, "but I can walk into any Italian restaurant. The Italians love me."

23-year-old Hamilton was instructed by his team, which has lodged an official appeal against the ruling, not to talk specifically about the Spa-Francorchamps stewards investigation as he met with reporters at Monza.

But he let slip that he did not speak after the race with Thati or the other two stewards. "I only spoke to one person," the Briton said, nodding when asked if it was the FIA's advisor Alan Donnelly, a close associate of FIA president Max Mosley.

Donnelly declined to comment, but an FIA official said the routine followed in Belgium was standard practice.

Source: GMM