Hamilton is told to let Alonso win

Lewis Hamilton was denied the chance of a dream maiden Formula One victory yesterday when his team told him: "We won't let you win the Monaco Grand Prix."

McLaren instead ordered Hamilton to let his world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso stroll to the chequered flag, prompting understandable disappointment from the British starlet.

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Hamilton — and 130,000 spectators From Back Page crammed around the harbour for motor racing's showpiece event —were denied a proper race from the moment Hamilton emerged from his first pit-stop to be informed of boss Ron Dennis's instruction over the in-car radio.

The decision came with just 29 of the 78 laps gone, in a successful bid to give McLaren their first one-two here since 1989 — ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who was a distant third.

Hamilton said: "I have to live with it. I've got No 2 on my car and I'm the No 2 driver."

Dennis admitted: "I don't like to slow drivers down because I'm an absolute racer, but it's the way you have to do it to win the Monaco Grand Prix.

I'm not happy with it, but we're the ones going away with the points. We're ahead in the championship and that's my job.

"People in England will feel there is favouritism given to Fernando, but we're scrupulously fair at all times.

"And this circuit has to be addressed, hence the reason why we have won 14 races here."

McLaren face possible censure from the governing FIA for yesterday's actions. "Team orders" were banned following the infamous Austrian Grand Prix six years ago when Rubens Barrichello was ordered to make way for his Ferrari team-mate, Michael Schumacher.