McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will not face any sanctions from the FIA for his heavy criticism of race stewards following the Monaco Grand Prix recently, after writing to FIA president Jean Todt to apologise. The Telegraph has revealed that Hamilton's apology has been accepted by Todt, with the matter now considered closed.

Having received three different penalties during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton emerged from his McLaren after finishing sixth in the race claiming he was being victimised by the stewards and also made an ill-judged joke about his colour playing a part in that victimisation.

“Out of six races I've been to the stewards five times. It's a joke, an absolute frickin' joke,” Hamilton said in Monaco. When asked why he thought he was being victimised, he replied: “Maybe it's because I'm black – that's what Ali G says.”

Soon after making those comments, Hamilton visited the race stewards to apologise, before then writing to the FIA's president to apologise again. The FIA could have charged him for bringing the sport into disrepute under the famous Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

“I am trying to maintain a good harmony amongst everybody,” Todt told the Telegraph. “I have tried to avoid controversy. I could have leaked the letter but it's between him and the FIA.

“I could have asked our judicial court to address the problem but we never officially opened the case. He went to the stewards to apologise. He went with his father.

“Maybe it would have been better to put him in the court; to ban him for six grands prix. But he wrote to me and I wrote to him and the thing is over.”