Lewis Hamilton "is ready" to open talks with Lotus, according to a report in the British tabloid the Daily Mail. But Enstone based Lotus' is just the latest name in the pot as uncertainty continues to surround the 2008 world champion's future at McLaren. Hamilton's lucrative contract runs out this year, and while he is expected to ultimately sign a new deal, he is reportedly at loggerheads over the level of his pay and other details, such as the right to keep his trophies.
Hamilton has also expressed concerns about McLaren's faltering 2012 campaign, after seeing his championship deficit grow to 37 points after a poor weekend at Silverstone. Asked if he is worried the Briton is close to jumping ship after McLaren's British grand prix struggle, team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "No, I think he's smarter than that. He's got to want to stay in this team, which I believe he does," he added.
Whether Hamilton stays or goes, McLaren's normal post-race technical debriefing at Woking on Tuesday is being billed by the British media as a "crisis summit". Teammate Jenson Button predicted it will be a "sombre" affair. "I'm not desperate but I am worried," admitted Whitmarsh, when asked about McLaren's current situation.
And Button's next comment could be interpreted as a warning to Whitmarsh that McLaren needs to work hard to keep its drivers happy. "I wonder what would happen if you put another driver in it?" said the 2009 world champion, referring to the ailing MP4-27. "I bet they would get a real shock," added Button. (GMM)
Hamilton 'ready' for Lotus amid McLaren crisis
- Published on 10 Jul 2012 12:14
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Driver profile
- Team McLaren
- Points 37
- Podiums 0
- Grand Prix 41
- Country GB
- Date of b. Jan 19 1980 (46)
- Place of b. Frome, Somerset, GB
- Weight 72 kg
- Length 1.82 m
- 67,104 comments on McLaren
23 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Jenson Button
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
- 163 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about McLaren
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