Team boss insists both his drivers will want the victory edge
Last Updated: November 14, 2011 4:19pm
One more win: Both Hamilton and Button have three victories this season
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton's win in Abu Dhabi has set the scene for a season-ending showdown with team-mate Jenson Button in Brazil.
Hamilton produced what he felt was one of the best drives of his career at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday after Sebastian Vettel's lap one retirement handed him the lead.
The 2008 world champion withstood the challenge of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to chalk up his third win of the season - a much-needed one given the problems he has suffered both on and off the track this year.
However, Button claimed the final podium spot, meaning that Hamilton cannot now beat his team-mate in the overall standings - a position he has never before experienced in a decade of single-seater racing.
Yet Button has also won three times this year and Whitmarsh is now expecting a battle royal at Interlagos in the season's final race as each looks to gain the edge.
"We'll remember that win for the Lewis we know and love, and I think he really enjoyed it," Whitmarsh said.
"I think it was an important one for him. He was strong all weekend after coming into it in a good frame of mind, focused.
"It was for Lewis to reset where he is, and where he is at in his head.
"It means both drivers have three great wins apiece this year, and I'm sure both of them think they can make it four by the end of the season.
"I know them both well enough that they will want to be the driver who comes out of the year with four wins. They'll both fancy their chances of winning in Brazil."
Surprised
Hamilton was surprised by Whitmarsh's remark, however, saying: "For the life of me I don't know why he would say that because that's not the case.
"Of course we both want to win, but it doesn't matter whether he or I get it, we still end up on a high. That's my view anyway."
It's not the first time Hamilton has disagreed with his boss's sentiment. He recently slated as "rubbish" Whitmarsh's claim that Button's strong form had put him under pressure and contributed to a number of erratic performances this season.
Button, who has now been on the podium seven times in the last eight races, conceded a degee of satisfaction in beating Hamilton in the drivers' championship.
"You have to do everything to be happy with your season," the 2009 world champion said. "You have to win races, you have to get more points than your team-mate, and consistently do a good job on race weekends.
"You need a bit of everything, and it's nice finishing in front of your team-mate over a season.
"It's not easy when your team-mate is Lewis Hamilton because he is extremely quick, but we've had some good battles this year.
"For me, I take away the battles, the fights we've had - and we've actually only touched once - and the competitiveness between us."
As for another degree of one-upmanship in making it four wins to three over his fellow Englishman, Button added: "I'd love to fight for the win there.
"Obviously Lewis will feel the same, and we'll have a good scrap hopefully, although I don't think we'll be the only people in that scrap.
"Seb is going to want to come back strong, Fernando (Alonso) is on top form, the Ferrari is working well.
"Felipe (Massa) has something to prove at his home grand prix, and Mark (Webber) wants to do a good job and have a clean weekend.
"So there will be six of us really fighting it out that weekend, so I'm excited about the challenge, and it would be lovely to get the last win of the season."
Irrelevant
Hamilton also brushed off being beaten by Button in the drivers' championship, insisting it is only the title that matters.
"For me it's irrelevant whether he has finished ahead of me because we want to win the championship," he added.
"Some days when you play golf you have an off day and you lose, well this has been an off year.
"It's not too bad to have an off year considering I've been racing since I was eight years old, and considering the stuff I've been going through I don't think I've done too bad to be where I am."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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