McLaren insist there will be no favouritism in the team
Formula one 2010 season has been probably the most competitive in recent times, with a number of teams having more than one driver competing for the world title.
Red Bull have had well documented problems and McLaren also face pretty much the same issues. Red Bull made a crucial mistake by handing Sebastian Vettel a front wing from their other driver Mark Webber’s car at the Silverstone GP.
Team boss Horner said that the decision was taken considering the fact that Vettel was ahead on the points and had a better chance of winning the championship, but still Horner did admit that he should have consulted Webber before making the decision. Webber was understandably upset and ironically ended up winning the race, and now he is the leading driver for the team.
The statement made by Horner that Vettel was favoured because he was the leading driver has thrown up the question that will the same rule be applied in all teams.
McLaren have come out and said that it will not be the case in their team, and even though Hamilton is ahead on points, neither of the 2 drivers will be favoured.
Team Boss Martin Whitmarsh was put on the spot when a reporter asked him if Hamilton was considered the most likely candidate to end up with the title in Abu Dhabi (in November when the season ends). Martin said, no there is nothing like that in the team and both British drivers will be treated equally.
He said that both drivers in his team are equally capable of winning the title this season. He added that Jenson Button is the current world champion and we know he wants to retain the title.
He went on to say that Hamilton is leading the race only because he was better in the first 9 races. Martin said that the team or Jenson have offered no extra favours to the 2008 world champion.
Whitmarsh said that Jenson is determined to win German Grand Prix and to get on top of the driver standings. He said that things like that do not bother the team, in fact it is a positive sign.
The team boss said that in a situation like this the team does not look at things wondering who to focus more on. Instead he said that the team has enough resources and technology to aide both of them in their title chase. He added that whosoever does better will be the champion.
Currently Hamilton is the inform man, he has attained 86 from a possible 100 points in the last 4 races, and will be favourite to continue the good work in Germany.
Hamilton won the controversial Istanbul GP where Vettel ran into Webber and enabled Hamilton and Vettel to get 1-2 spots. He followed it up with a win at Montreal and got 2nd spot in Valencia and Silverstone. Hamilton is now 12 points ahead of Jenson Button who lies in 2nd place on the driver standings. Whitmarsh expects Button to go all the way in the upcoming race to claim the top spot.
Whitmarsh said that Jenson won two races this season and proved that the McLaren car does suit his style of driving, the new upgrades may be the reason he has not been able to handle the car as well as he did in the early part of the season. The team boss said he has seen Button in practice and he looks to have got a grip on the updates so Hamilton may be pushed all the way this weekend.
Whitmarsh added that there is a very good relationship between Button and Hamilton and he is not worried at all on that front. He said that the media loves such stories and hype it up whereas the truth is that both the drivers get along very well.
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