KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix on Thursday for giving misleading evidence to race stewards.

The McLaren driver was awarded third place after the season-opening race in Melbourne last weekend when stewards ruled Toyota's Jarno Trulli breached regulations by passing Hamilton during a safety car period.

Trulli was reinstated to his original third-place finish, while Hamilton and McLaren were excluded from the results and receive no points.