No plan B if Hamilton quits McLaren
Uncertainty continues to shroud Lewis Hamilton's future with McLaren
Martin Whitmarsh has surprisingly revealed there is no plan B should Lewis Hamilton decide to quit McLaren.
It would appear McLaren's team principal is placing all his eggs in one basket, firmly believing Hamilton will not walk out on a team that has taken care of his career for the last 14 years.
When asked by Press Association Sport as to a back-up plan should Hamilton opt not to renew his contract, Whitmarsh replied: "I haven't given plan B any thought."
The Italian Grand Prix weekend was a reminder to Hamilton - if it were ever needed - of just how good his life is at McLaren, even if he believes he has not won the number of titles his talent deserves with the Woking-based marque.
It was a reminder to Whitmarsh, too, he has one of the top three drivers in the world on his books and the team should do everything within their financial means to hold on to him.
The 27-year-old was flawless in Monza, following up the 23rd pole of his F1 career with his 20th victory to close the gap on championship leader Fernando Alonso to 37 points with seven grands prix remaining.
It led to Whitmarsh describing as "fantasy" the suggestions made by former team principal Eddie Jordan last week that Hamilton had already signed for rivals Mercedes and an announcement of the deal was imminent.
But there are no guarantees Hamilton will stay as it is known his management company, impresario Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment, are talking to Mercedes. Whitmarsh continued: "We want Lewis to stay, and we want him to stay if he wants to stay.
"But in terms of when you are trying to win a championship, I've a number of priorities. You divide your time, energy and focus on those things - one of them is making the car faster, better; another is dealing with all the operational issues to make sure you don't make mistakes, and the other is dealing with your own drivers.
"But rightly or wrongly I haven't spent a lot of energy on that (plan B) subject."
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These days money do all the talking in sports as there is no loyalty when you have a third party doing all your business for you.
Sad as it is we have to accept the choices these sports men and women makes and rightly or wrongly it has to be done.
Look at Michael at mercedes where he is one of the higest paid driver at present but has he won a race since his return ? The answers are clear but he gets paid regardless so if Mercedes want Hamilton then I think he should go and see what he can do for that team.
Ross Brawn is no mug, if it wasnt for him Jenson would still be a journey man going from team to team and not being crowned a champion. (how many races had Jenson won before he had the privaliege to work with Brawn.
I hope Lewis goes, all this talk about loyalty is out of order, he has given his loyalty to the team ever since he got there since being a teenager, he gave them a title and a very longtime of his career.
try yr luck at mercedes and if it doesn't work out then there will always be team begging for Lewis signature in the future.
the guy is pure class on the track and has brought us all so much thrilling entertainment in his f1 career.
Lewis is a born winner, if McLaren had there heads screwed on right they wouldnt be in this predicament and would just give him the contract he so rightly deserves.
Same goes for Mclaren Lewis attracts a lot of sponsorship money which does offset he fees, hence the possibility of large pay pack offer from Mercedes.
If does Lewis does go at least BBC commentators can focus their endless superlatives' on Jenson also excuse his frequent wilting for little or no reason.
Same goes for McLaren Lewis attracts a lot of sponsorship money which does offset his fees, hence the possibility of large pay pack offer from Mercedes.
If Lewis does go at least BBC commentators can focus their endless superlatives' on Jenson also excuse his frequent wilting for little or no reason.
No I think until he gain a victory the BBC commentators would focus on Lewis’s decision making along with Messer’s Humphreys & Coultards expertise in mind reading drivers thoughts as well as being impartial and ex F! Champion.
there skillsets amazing.
Martin Whitmarsh said he would only have a driver that wanted to be part of the Mclaren team, & I agree, some people shouldn`t take their work home with them, but in F1 that's not impossible, but one thing Hamilton shouldn`t do is bring his personal problems to work with him!
Where would Hamilton be today without McLaren's backing and all that sponsorship over all those years, not where he is today that's for sure.
Is Hamilton also being greedy trying to push for too much money? and getting a bit too big for his boots.
He (Hamilton) needs to get his mind in gear and his arse in gear and sort himself out, because one thing is for sure, Martin Whitmarsh and Mclaren will continue to be successful without Hamilton, but will Hamilton carry on and be successful without Mclaren???
Don`t get me wrong I like Hamilton & Button and in the same team even better, but Lewis sort your brain out.
