McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh says Lewis Hamilton does not intend to leave team – Formula 1 news
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has denied rumours that their driver Lewis Hamilton intends to leave the team in near future.
Whitmarsh said that he was confident that the 2008 Formula 1 world champion was happy with the team.
Hamilton’s contract with McLaren is expected to expire by the end of the ongoing 2011 season. There have been many rumours of him joining the Red Bull Racing team for the next season since one of Red Bull drivers Mark Webber is on a yearly contract with
the team.
The rumour surfaced when Lewis Hamilton said recently that he wants more titles as he wants to be one of the best and in order to do that, he is willing to join any other team as well. Other than that, recent reports and statements by Red Bull team boss
and other members further strengthened the rumour.
However, Whitmarsh insists that the 2008 Formula 1 world champion has recently told him that he is not willing to leave the team anytime soon.
“Lewis has a long career ahead of him and I think he's intelligent enough to realise that the environment he has here is good for him and plays to his strengths. Lewis has made it clear to me he wants to stay in the team and I've made it clear to him I want
him to stay,” Whitmarsh told the media.
On top of that, he added that the team is going to get a contractual agreement with Lewis sometime soon but he added that the media has created this hype for no reason. Martin stated that he trusts Hamilton and that the team does not need to sign a contract
with the British driver until at least the next 3 to 6 months.
“We are focused on winning the championship this year, next year, in five years and 10 years' time, as motor-racing is our core business. Ferrari can also say that with some credibility,” the McLaren boss said.
Other than that, Whitmarsh believes that McLaren are a much better team keeping in mind the fact that they have been in the sport for a very long time while Red Bull joined Formula 1 back in 2006.
He believes that McLaren have proved what they are capable of while Red Bull Racing Team have just won one championship which does not prove that they are consistent enough to win titles or compete for them each year.
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