Whitmarsh: Lewis refreshed after 2010 problems
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh is confident Lewis Hamilton will come back stronger in the 2011 season following his off-track blues last year.
Hamilton admitted at the conclusion of the 2010 season that his personal life had "not been as smooth and as happy as they could have been" and it affected him on the track.
Although he never mentioned what was bothering him, many believe his high-profile decision to drop his father Anthony Hamilton as manager had a major impact on him.
Whitmarsh, though, is convinced we'll see a more focused Hamilton this year as his problems are something of the past.
"I think it is well publicised that Lewis had a number of issues," Whitmarsh told Autosport. "He is still a very young man. I think he is finding his way as a motor racing driver and in his life, and I think he had some cause for distraction.
"The team could have done a better job, and inevitably the drivers could have done a better job. We could all have done a better job. I could have done a better job too.
"But overall I don't think Lewis should be too dissatisfied with his performance. He had some fantastic races and we all know what a superstar he is, and how tough he will be on himself. Just as Jenson [Button] was tough on himself and disappointed about his end of the season, just as I am tough on myself and the performance of the team.
"That is what drives us along, motivates us and makes us determined to win this year."
Hamilton and Button finished fourth and fifth respectively last year as McLaren finished the season empty handed.
Whitmarsh says one of the big lessons they learned from their failed campaign in 2010 is that you have "enhancements coming through" for most of the season.
"I think the key lesson from last year is that you have to continue to develop the car," he said.
"It was such a tight, fiercely fought, Championship that you have to find performance every fortnight. From halfway through the year, it was going to be the team that found the most performance. I think it was as simple as that. Both of our drivers did a great job and I am confident that they will do that in the coming years.
"What you would like is a serial production line of enhancements coming through the system and you aim for that - but sometimes it becomes a little bit drier.
"Maybe we were not as racy in our interpretation of front wing heights as others, and that had notable effects. I was surprised by some of those things, but at the end of the day I am not complaining about what anyone else did. If the opportunity was there, you have to try and do it yourself."
Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)
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