McLaren drivers defend Whitmarsh
Friday 22nd July 2011
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have both jumped to the defence of under-pressure McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
Whitmarsh has stepped into the firing line of late in light of his team's struggles to bridge the gap to runaway rivals Red Bull.
Following Button's stunning last-lap victory in Canada last month, the last two races in Valencia and just 11 days ago on home soil at Silverstone have seen the team suffer and slump.
Over the British Grand Prix weekend mistakes were made, initially in qualifying as Hamilton was sent out on the wrong tyres in the top-10 shoot-out.
Then in the race a pit-stop gaffe wrecked Button's hopes of finishing on the podium at Silverstone for what would have been the first time in 12 attempts.
The suggestion now is Whitmarsh's job is on the line, but Hamilton believes that to be far from the case.
"There's no chance of that," Hamilton told Press Association Sport in the Nurburgring paddock ahead of this weekend's German Grand Prix.
"There is a better atmosphere within the team than there ever has been, it is constantly growing.
"He has been a part of the team for 23 years, so a part of the ups and the downs for many years, but he is doing a fantastic job.
"I am certain there are no plans for him to go anywhere, and we're all working as hard as we can, the team are doing a great job, and I feel positive coming into this weekend."
Unlike Hamilton, who has personally known Whitmarsh since he signed with the team 13 years ago, Button's working relationship has so far only lasted just over 18 months.
But from what he has seen so far, in particular on Saturday after qualifying at Silverstone when Whitmarsh delivered an eight-minute soliloquy into McLaren's failings at present, Button believes there is no finer man for the job.
"For me he is a great person to work with, and I personally feel he is great for the team," Button told Press Association Sport.
"He is very light-hearted in some ways, but very serious in others. He is very passionate about racing.
"It was good of him to put it out there at the last race, to give you the facts of where we are, why we haven't done well and where we should go from here. It was a great speech. Fair play to him.
"For me, every time I've had issues within the team I've gone to Martin. He is very open, we discuss things and clear them up as soon as possible.
"He listens to the drivers a lot, which is something I've experienced at other teams, but even more so here than any other."
Button feels Whitmarsh is being unfairly singled out, especially as McLaren are the only team this season whose two drivers have won a race.
"It was said people are unsure of his position within the team, the engineers and mechanics. That's absolute rubbish," added Button.
"I know that's not the case from the team. Everyone thinks he is doing a good job and the atmosphere is great."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment