Martin Whitmarsh expects long-term deal with Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1 news
McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh says that he is expecting a new long-term deal with their driver, Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s contract with the Woking based team is going to expire at the end of the current season. Meanwhile, there have been a lot of speculations that the British driver may join Lotus in the future. However, Whitmarsh is hoping to sign a new long-term agreement with the 2008 world champion and wants him to think about it during the summer break.
“I'm expecting that we will,” Whitmarsh said. “Lewis has been a member of this team for a long time. We have been concentrating on a season - I think there's been more speculation, more concern, more interest in this situation in the media than perhaps within the team or in Lewis' mind. We appear nowadays to be asked questions about it but I don't think it occupies as much time in our minds as it does in column inches.”
He also said that they will carry on the further negotiations with the Briton after the next two races.
He added, “I think for both parties it's something that's got to be determined, preferably before the end of the season”.
On the other hand, Hamilton who struggled in the last two grands prix with the lack of pace has said that his aim is to win this year’s championship fight and for that his team needs to make the essential developments and the substantial preparations to enhance the pace of MP4-27.
Nonetheless, Whitmarsh said that they are already trying their best to resolve the ongoing issues so as to come up stronger in the races ahead. In addition, he said that they have planned to launch some major updates in their car in the German GP which is to be held at Hockenheimring on July 22 which will hopefully improve their position in the championship fight.
Presently, they are standing at fourth place in the constructors’ championship with 142 points. Additionally, they are 44 points ahead of Mercedes and are 2 points behind Lotus. Above and beyond, it will be interesting to see how they show up in the season ahead.
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