Hamilton summoned over F1 incident

Stewards summoned Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton Thursday after reopening an enquiry into an incident that gave him third place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that "a new element" had emerged regarding what happened during the second safety car period of the race at Melbourne last weekend.

Hamilton and a team representative were due to meet three stewards, two of whom officiated in Australia, in the afternoon at the Malaysian Grand Prix circuit.

Toyota's Italian Jarno Trulli, who crossed the line third, was handed a retrospective 25 second penalty that demoted him to 12th after stewards ruled he had passed Hamilton while the race was under safety car conditions.

McLaren's Hamilton, who had started 18th, was moved up to third place.

Toyota had said after the race that they would make a protest but dropped that Wednesday because they felt it had no chance of succeeding.

It was not clear what the new evidence was, although they could involve pit to car radio conversations between the team and driver.

Trulli, who had slid off and been passed by Hamilton, said after the race that he had little choice but to overtake the Briton again.

"When the safety car came out towards the end of the race, Lewis Hamilton passed me but soon after he suddenly slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road," he said in a team statement at the time.

"I thought he had a problem so I overtook him as there was nothing else I could do."

Hamilton had told Speed TV after the race that Trulli went wide onto the grass at the second to last corner.

"I was forced to go by. I slowed down as much as I could. I was told to let him back past, but I mean ... I don't know if that's the regulations, and if it isn't, then I should have really had third," said the Briton.