How the world views the Hamilton affair

Here's a snapshot of the reaction from some of my international colleagues in the media.

First to Germany, where, true to form, leading tabloid Bild have making mischief with Photoshop again. Last week Hamilton was morphed onto a snail's body, today he's got Pinocchio's nose and is described as the 'lying world champion' Ouch!

Next on to Spain, where El Pais simply has the headline, "Lying for a podium." They feel that this has been a damaging moment for the world champion, but do not feel that the matter requires any further punishment.

That said, many in Spain are rubbing their hands with glee. In AS, the strongest of the Spanish daily sports papers, the writer says that McLaren has lost all credibility. In a stinging attack it says that McLaren used to stand for all the best of British sporting values, but since the arrival of Hamilton that has been eroded. It questions how a team with such great resources and allied to such a prestigious brand as Mercedes, could make such stupid mistakes.

In Italy they are playing with a fairly straight bat. La Gazetta dello Sport, the leading sports daily just reports the facts, as does Corriere dello Sport. "Hamilton risks further sanctions, is the line they take,

Meanwhile in the UK there is some really tough stuff, particularly in the Daily Mail, where they really go for it,

Get this; "When the story of Lewis Hamilton's career is written, it will record how he bankrupted himself in the counting house of reputation for the sake of one single point.... McLaren, the most arrogant team in the paddock, self-deluded in their own righteousness, are contaminated by a culture of cheating."

I'm supposed to be going to a dinner tonight, hosted by Mercedes boss Norbert Haug and McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh for seven or eight UK journalists, including the Mail, Times etc. Could be quite a tense evening....