Whitmarsh: I want Lewis to attack
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton should continue to go for broke in his bid for success.
Whitmarsh endured a Canadian Grand Prix of remarkable contrasts on Sunday, initially watching Hamilton retire following a crash with team-mate Jenson Button, before the latter went on to win a sensational race. For Hamilton, it was yet another dark afternoon in the wake of his performance in Monaco where he was twice involved in accidents with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado in his Williams.
Throw in another minor collision at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Red Bull's Mark Webber, and it would appear Hamilton is struggling mentally. But Whitmarsh said: "Lewis is a passionate racing driver and he has to go for things."
He added: "He's clearly had an unfortunate run whether you look at it statistically or objectively.
"I suspect I'm not the most impartial, I want Lewis to attack, and obviously I don't want him to have contact with cars.
"But at the same time if he holds back for fear of having contact then he won't be the great racer he is and do the job he has to do.
"I'm sure he'll continue to be a very tough racer and have many successes ahead in his career."
Button, who fought his way from 21st and last following another collision, this time with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, also launched a passionate defence of Hamilton, who has come under criticism from former champion Niki Lauda.
"Lewis is in the headlines a lot, and a lot of it is because he is good," said Button.
"He's a racer, a fighter. For me that is the reason why I wanted to be here, against and with a driver that is super talented, one of the best drivers Formula One has ever seen."
Credit: Press Association (www.pressassociation.com)
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