Hamilton: spy saga could ruin title hopes

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) meets in Paris on Thursday to hear new evidence in a long-running saga over leaked Ferrari technical information that ended up at McLaren.

If found guilty of using the information to their advantage, something that was not proven at a first hearing in July, McLaren could be kicked out of this and next year's championship.

"If you sit down and think about it, I could have what I've worked for and what all the team have worked for, we could have it taken away from us," Hamilton told Britain's ITV television at the Italian Grand Prix.

"And when you really think about that, you think 'Wow' I could be out of a job next weekend and then what happens?

"It was just going so well and then you just get this big knife that cuts off your blood line," continued the 22-year-old British rookie, who leads double world champion teammate Fernando Alonso by three points.

While McLaren savoured their first one-two at Monza, Ferrari's home track, the hearing on Thursday hung heavily over the race.

McLaren started the day with a statement suggesting that the Italian authorities had deliberately tried to disrupt their preparations for the race by notifying senior team members before qualifying on Saturday that they were under legal investigation.

Hamilton, who finished second behind Alonso after both started on the front row, had total confidence in his team but his love of the sport had been tested.

"I never actually thought I'd be sitting here saying I hate something about Formula One, but the politics and people wanting to be bigger than others is just incredible," he said.

"I would say to you all that (team boss) Ron (Dennis) has always been very, very loyal to me, he has always given me the opportunity and he has always been such a great man to me. I have never had any reasons to not believe him.

"He is going through a time right now where I think some people are trying to bring him down and right now the best thing for me is to give him support," added Hamilton, who has been supported by McLaren and Dennis for the past decade.

The Briton also told a post-race news conference just how much winning the title would mean to him.

"It probably means quite a lot more than it would to any other driver because it's my rookie year and I definitely didn't expect to be challenging for the world championship or leading it," he said.

"It would be great for us to win the constructors' championship and the drivers' championship just to show that, even with all those issues and problems, nothing can bring us down and that we are unstoppable."