Martin Whitmarsh is sure McLaren's recent errors will not affect contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton. The British team's latest mistake not only cost Lewis Hamilton pole in Spain, it put the 2008 world champion to the very back of the grid.
Asked if he worries that the now seemingly constant flow of team gaffes will damage McLaren's efforts to re-sign Hamilton, Whitmarsh insisted: "No, I don't. He has got to build the support of the team, he has got to feel comfortable doing it, he has got to want to drive and he is in good shape," British newspapers quote the McLaren team principal as saying. "I look forward to working with him for a long time to come."
But Whitmarsh admitted that, given Hamilton's tumultuous 2011 season, he was worried the British driver might have despaired last Saturday when the team's refuelling mistake cost the 27-year-old pole.
"I was concerned," he said, "because it is a pretty tough thing to happen to a driver. But I have to say he showed some greatness I had not seen before. By the end of our chat he was consoling me. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time," added Whitmarsh. (GMM)
McLaren sure gaffes won't hurt Hamilton talks
- Published on 15 May 2012 10:17
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
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10 - Apr 12
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17 - Apr 19
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Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
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22 - May 24
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Gilles Villeneuve
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Driver profile
- Team Ferrari
- Points 3,648
- Podiums 136
- Grand Prix 239
- Country GB
- Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Tewin, GB
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.74 m
- 483,822 comments on Ferrari
66 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
Team profile
- Team name McLaren
- Base Woking, United Kingdom
- Jenson Button 1
- Lewis Hamilton 1
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Niki Lauda 1
- Stoffel Vandoorne 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Gerhard Berger 2
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Jenson Button 3
- Lewis Hamilton 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 3
- Mika Häkkinen 3
- Lando Norris 4
- Lewis Hamilton 4
- Jenson Button 4
- Kimi Räikkönen 4
- Jenson Button 5
- Sergio Perez 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Niki Lauda 8
- Alain Prost 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Fernando Alonso 14
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Jenson Button 22
- Lewis Hamilton 22
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Stoffel Vandoorne 47
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- Oscar Piastri 81
- 305,656 comments on McLaren
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- Tweets about McLaren
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