McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will put the worst experience of his life behind him at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Six months ago, the 24-year-old was literally on top of the world after capturing the Formula One world drivers' championship with a dramatic fifth place finish in Brazil.

But it was a very different Hamilton who appeared before the media in Malaysia yesterday.

Excluded from classification for last weekend's race in Australia after it was determined that he and the team's sporting director, Dave Ryan, had deliberately misled stewards in their investigation into a race incident, Hamilton appeared humbled, contrite and a little out of sorts.

"For me, the situation is definitely the worst thing I've experienced in my life," said the Englishman.

"That is why I am here. It is right for me as a human being and as a man to stand in front of you all and tell you exactly what went on and put up my hands.

"I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I'm sorry to my team and my family for the embarrassment. It is a very, very embarrassing situation."

Hamilton's build-up to the race in Malaysia has been overshadowed by his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix after being found by race stewards to have withheld evidence at a hearing after the race.

He was elevated from fourth to third by the stewards after Jarno Trulli was handed a 25-second penalty for passing him during a safety car period late in the race.

But the case was re-opened by the FIA on Thursday after evidence was produced of a radio transmission between Hamilton and the pit wall which revealed that he had been told to allow the Toyota driver to pass.

The stewards determined that Hamilton and McLaren had "acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards", throwing them out of the race with the threat of further sanctions to follow.

Hamilton insisted that he was not a liar and was led in the deceit by Ryan, who has been suspended by the team with immediate effect.

"When I came up from the garage, we went straight up the pitlane and we went straight there (to the stewards' hearing), and while we were waiting for Jarno to come out, I was instructed," he explained.

"I honestly acted as a team member. If the team have asked me to do something I have generally done it. I didn't have time to think about it, to think about what I was going to do.

"I went in and I did it, and I felt awkward. I felt very uncomfortable. I think the stewards could see that, and I guess that is why I am in this position."

The whole incident definitely got to the McLaren driver, who was fined twice by the FIA on Friday for exceeding the pit lane speed limit on two occasions during practice.

"I've never felt so bad. Try and put yourself in my position and understand that, like I said, I am not a liar.

"I have not gone through my life being a liar or dishonest. And so for people to say I am dishonest and for the world to think that....what can I say?"

Having been depicted as a cheat for his part in the incident, Hamilton is hopeful that his blanket apology will help to restore his damaged credibility.

"This is not an easy thing for anyone to do. To put their hand up, and step back and realise they are in the wrong. But the fact is I was in the wrong.

"I feel I owe it to my fans and I owe it to my people to let them know. But like I said, I was misled.

"It is easy to be misled sometimes, and I realise that that is the situation and that is why I am here."