The head of Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One team today described allegations that he was racist as “lies that have damaged my reputation”.

Ron Dennis, chairman of the McLaren team, denied claims made by a former steward that he was a racist and a bully. Peter Boland claimed last week that the tycoon had boarded his luxury executive jet in the Middle East and said that he must wash his hands because he had been “shaking hands with Arabs all day”.

Mr Dennis, whose wealth is estimated at £100million, said that he had come to an employment tribunal in Southampton to rectify the accusations. The 61-year-old told the hearing that he had never made the racist remark and that he regularly washed his hands.

“It’s an absolute lie. It’s the most ridiculous thing,” he said, explaining that he washed his hands a lot for health reasons.

“It’s simple. First of all everybody knows I have a phenomenal attention to detail. Some people have liked to say I’m compulsive obsessive.

“One thing I’m really concerned about is my health. I travel extensively and I know how inconvenient it can be to be ill.”

Mr Dennis said that the first thing he would do was wash his hands when he could. “I’m in awe of people who do not do it more,” he explained.

Mr Boland, 27, from Stowmarket in Suffolk, is alleging discrimination and victimisation due to sexual orientation after his sacking in May 2007. He has accused three companies controlled by Mr Dennis — McLaren Group Limited, Absolute Taste and Greyscape — of the offences.

Mr Dennis told the tribunal today: “I feel very strongly that some statements that have been attributed to me are just lies that have damaged my reputation.

“I am here to defend my reputation, which has been badly damaged. I am massively frustrated that things can be said and not challenged until they have been put into print.”

Mr Dennis discovered Hamilton as a 13-year-old go cart racer and supported him until he became the first black driver to win the Formula One championship last season.

The businessman said that Mr Boland had been sacked because he was not doing his job properly, had fallen asleep while working on his private jet and had been rude to important guests.

He accepted that he did not follow procedures when dismissing Mr Boland but added that this was done to be kind and reach an amicable settlement.

Mr Dennis said that the steward’s demands for £100,000 in pay was ridiculous and that he had been shocked when Mr Boland had made allegations that his perceived sexual orientation was the reason he had been dismissed.

The Formula One boss said that he knew nothing about Mr Boland’s sexually, that any issues of sexuality were “irrelevant” and had nothing to do with the sacking.

“The allegation was unfounded and simply made to get money from me. I felt this was tantamount to blackmail.”

Earlier the tribunal heard that Mr Boland, who is representing himself, earned £32,000 a year in the job. The Hong Kong-born steward said that it was his job to look after the jet that he said was Mr Dennis’s most precious possession.

Lifting the lid on the world of high-class international business travel, Mr Boland said that the Challenger 604 jet had white silk carpet requiring that passengers remove their shoes, highly polished silver leaf work surfaces and high-quality food and drink.

The tribunal continues.

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