Beijing, Apr. 18 : Lewis Hamilton has expressed surprise over the exit of Ron Davis from Formula One, but was not disappointed.

"I wasn't disappointed," said Hamilton. "I was surprised as I hadn't heard about it. I was just as surprised as the rest of my team. Of course, Ron has been a huge force in supporting my life and he still plays a key role in that," the Daily Express quoted hamilton as saying after he had set the fastest time during first practice in China.

Dennis, 61, who built the McLaren team into the giant it is today, has stepped aside to run the company's new independent automotive group.

"It can only be positive for him. He loves a challenge," said Hamilton of Dennis's move.

Asked if he welcomed the decision, Hamilton said: "I'm not going to fight it, am I?"

Hamilton and the team's now-sacked sporting director Dave Ryan lied to race stewards in Australia - and in Malaysia - over the same incident. Dennis's retreat from F1 duties could make things easier for the team, called to answer charges of fraudulent conduct by the FIA's World Motor Sports Council on April 29. (ANI)