McLaren’s hopes linger on
One thing that McLaren has spelled most evidently all through the season is “optimism.”
Before heading for the last round in Brazil, the team was reluctant to give up on Jenson Button, though it was pretty obvious that he would not be able to get back in the title battle. Similarly, this week it is the other team
driver, Lewis Hamilton, for whom the team believes that “the fight is not over until it is over.”
The McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh believes that anything can happen in Formula One world and the battle for the title would not be over until they see the chequered flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The last week’s race in Brazil saw the 2008’s World Champion end at fourth place. This finish not only brought him 24 points adrift the chart’s leader, Fernando Alonso, but also his chances of the championship are very dim now.
As the driver talked to the reporters soon after the race last week, the 25-year-old very vividly accepted that only a "miracle" could get him the 2nd Championship of his career.
To grant Hamilton a victory, Alonso would need to end out of points while the two Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel must end no higher than 6th and 3rd places respectively.
Moreover, knowing the potential of Hamilton and keeping in mind the uncertainties seen all through the season one is insisted to pay heed to the expectations of the McLaren team boss.
While talking to the media earlier today Whitmarsh said, "It's not over yet. My feeling is you race to the last corner of any Championship. To go into the last race still in the hunt with Lewis means we're going there to try to win.”
He further continued saying that in the past years Formula One has seen the unexpected happen on the track. He believes that the auto sport world allows one to manoeuvre the unpredictable on the track.
Moreover, even before the season has ended and the championship got decided Whitmarsh believes the current season has been one of the most unforgettable in the sport's history.
He explained saying, “I hope people do appreciate what a fantastic Championship it has been. The season has not finished yet, but it has gone by without all the normal dramas that are usually written about in the paddock. This season people have written
about the contest between the teams and drivers, and that's been really exciting and refreshing."
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