F1 News
Date: 21/September/2012
McLaren F1 Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh came under interrogation from the media over the future of yet-to-sign star Lewis Hamilton on Friday in Singapore.
Hamilton has been linked with a big-money switch to Mercedes and the media frenzy the speculation has produced shows no signs of dying down.
Upon his arrival in Far East, Hamilton made clear he had nothing to add regarding his 2013 plans, but Whitmarsh wasn’t able to escape a grilling during Friday’s official FIA press conference.
First Whitmarsh dodged a question about whether he had underestimated the Hamilton/Mercedes situation, then another asking him if he now accepted ‘that Lewis has an offer from Mercedes’.
Likewise, a question on whether he has started to think of a possible replacement, should Hamilton leave, was also brushed aside.
Asked why it is taking so long to reach a solution, Whitmarsh explained:
“It seems a long time because of all the speculation, but when you sit down and seriously put your mind to entering into a new contract it doesn't take too long. I think it's a question of priorities and other things we've been doing.”
But are McLaren trying to pay Hamilton less? “I'm sure he will want more money and I'm sure we will want to pay less - that's how business normally works.”
Whitmarsh did his best to remind the media that McLaren has won the last three races and that Hamilton is second in the World Championship, 37 points from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso with seven rounds remaining.
“I think over the last three races we've got stronger and more focused,” said Whitmarsh, who also insisted Hamilton is not distracted by the off-track discussions.
“I think anyone who knows Lewis and witnessed Lewis last weekend [in Italy] and actually also this weekend would say he's very, very focused on doing the job.
“I think he realises that this year we have a strong opportunity to win a World Championship.”
Reflecting on the season so far, Whitmarsh conceded that McLaren hadn’t made the most of its potential.
“We're very pleased that the last three events have been on very different circuits and we've been competitive at all of them. But what we haven't done is pile in the points that we should have done, given the competitiveness of our car.
“I think after 12 or 13 races, I think we've been on the front row eleven times. We've clearly got a strong package and therefore we should be disappointed in the number of points that we don't have rather than the points that we do have.
“But you don't look back, you look forward. I think we've got quite a good development momentum so we're making the car quicker.
“I think we've got two great racing drivers who are very much focused on trying to win races and other things, so we're hopeful that we can get a result here and keep the pressure on.
“You've got to say that Fernando's done a great job to be where he is and that's going to take some effort to overhaul, but it's certainly do-able and we're going to keep pushing as hard as we can.”
On track, Red Bull’s reigning world champion and defending Singapore winner Sebastian Vettel led both of the Friday night practice sessions.
McLaren’s Jenson Button was 0.311s behind in second, with Ferrari’s World Championship leader Fernando Alonso third (+0.556s). Hamilton was fifth quickest, +0.746s.
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