Hamilton ‘ready’ for Lotus amid McLaren crisis
Lewis Hamilton “is ready” to open talks with Lotus, according to a report in the British tabloid the Daily Mail.
But Enstone based Lotus’ is just the latest name in the pot as uncertainty continues to surround the 2008 world champion’s future at McLaren.
Hamilton’s lucrative contract runs out this year, and while he is expected to ultimately sign a new deal, he is reportedly at loggerheads over the level of his pay and other details, such as the right to keep his trophies. Hamilton has also expressed concerns about McLaren’s faltering 2012 campaign, after seeing his championship deficit grow to 37 points after a poor weekend at Silverstone.
Asked if he is worried the Briton is close to jumping ship after McLaren’s British grand prix struggle, team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: “No, I think he’s smarter than that. He’s got to want to stay in this team, which I believe he does.”
Whether Hamilton stays or goes, McLaren’s normal post-race technical debriefing at Woking on Tuesday is being billed by the British media as a “crisis summit”. Teammate Jenson Button predicted it will be a “sombre” affair.
“I’m not desperate but I am worried,” admitted Whitmarsh, when asked about McLaren’s current situation.
And Button’s next comment could be interpreted as a warning to Whitmarsh that McLaren needs to work hard to keep its drivers happy.
“I wonder what would happen if you put another driver in it?” said the 2009 world champion, referring to the ailing MP4-27. “I bet they would get a real shock,” added Button.
Source:GMM
michael pearson | Jul 10, 2012 | Reply
what most people i talk to think about mclaren is ” that they do not stand up for their drivers” in the case of lewis!! thats about never !how many times has he been penalised in the last three years ? compared to any other driver! we all know that the farrari, hardly ever get penalised,but us brits have to put up with that!and what about the start grid poss, in this weeks grand prix!!.if that had been farrari on pole, or red bull, they would they would start their for the race!!!
Racehound | Jul 10, 2012 | Reply
………oh Jenson stop it!!! Youre making me laugh so much it hurts!!! Put Alonso back in a McJalopy and he will wipe the floor with both you and Hamiltoon!! How ronny boy dennis must be kicking himself now for secretly backing his “homegrown rookie” over a double world champion in 2007!!! Maybe McIdiots would have had 3 or 4 Constructors titles in the last 5 years plus 4 or 5 drivers titles by now, but poor old ronnyboy got too greedy and messed it all up!!!!
Gabe | Jul 11, 2012 | Reply
What are you talking about Michael, and why do Macca fans always have to bring Ferrari into their greif. BY THE WAY…IT’S FERRARI not Farrari. Ferrari is doing everything right right now so get over it and move on. There are no reasons for penalties to them. They started with a bad car and have developed better than any other team this year, so get over it. Maybe Macca let the wrong engineers go…LMFAO
Gabe | Jul 11, 2012 | Reply
OHHHHH wait…and the wrong driver….get over it and well said Racehound…Alonso is by far the best driver on the grid in this day and age.
BoogWar | Jul 16, 2012 | Reply
Alonso? The best driver on the grid? Are you NUTZ? He got held up BY A ROOKIE and had only one place to make up to win the WDC in 2010. PETROV stuck it to him for 40 laps. He was thoroughly shown up by another ROOKIE in the same car in 2007. Also while at McLaren, he was an integral part of Stepneygate. While he knows how to finish races, that isn’t a quality that defines a racing driver as Marussia and Caterham drivers do that too…at the back of the field. MOST OF ALONSO’s passes are DONE IN THE PITS. Do some research and check out the amount of times he’s passed HAM on track, versus the other way around. Silverstone was the first time he qualified on pole all year…Hamilton has three pole positions, and has qualified in the top three grid slots eight out of nine races this year. Don’t insult my intelligence. HAM is the best driver on the grid, bar none.
Zeitgeist1377 | Jul 17, 2012 | Reply
Alonso got held up by a rookie because it was a static track. Did you not hear that they modified it immediately after the race because they REALIZED it is not possible for Alonso to be held up by such a loser for 40 laps; there had to be something wrong with the track. Hamilton is a good driver, all my praises. But, he started ahead of Alonso and was not jumped up EVERY time in pits. He was overtaken as well. Race is a combination of things and complete package gets you the lead in championship. That, my friends, is where Alonso is. McLaren did not waste time with Alonso but they are wasting Hamilton’s talent with this jalopy.