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[The Second Coming]

:hehe: Like Whitmarsh's timing to start heaping lavish praise on Hamilton after years of disrespect. He's now said he deserves to win the Monaco GP

Did he actually use the word "deserve?" How about simply not screwing him up so he can earn the win. Ground-breaking concept, I know.

[phil12321]

I credited Whitmarsh with his recent praise of Lewis, then I read this

Whitmarsh "My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time."

Is that so? I find that comment beggars belief. Whitmarsh has worked closely with Lewis since Lewis was a 13yr old boy. And only now does he realise lewis' full potential? Its taken 13yrs to arrive at this? Then his judgement of talent and personality is woefully lacking for someone in his position. In fact I cant accept he's suddenly realised this.
So the alternative is, he's known Lewis' capabilities and personality for quite some time but for some reson has a problem with Lewis(His own ego? hang over from the contract row with Anthony?) Dunno, could be anything. And thats fine. We can't help who we like and dislike. But we can treat people we have a problem with professionally and with respect . Whitmarsh hasn't done this with Lewis. His comments and digs over the past couple of years; such as ......Lewis doesnt look after his tyres, Lewis is upset that Jenson beat him, Jenson can run a team and Lewis is learning and on and on and on, All of which Lewis has refuted either by his comments or actions on track; show a lack of respect and consideration for Lewis as a person and as a professional.
So why the sudden change? He's suddenly realised lewis' worth? or he's eternally grateful that lewis didnt stoop to his level and play the pay back game? Lewis had ample reason to do so after this and last season but he rose above it and supported the team. Lets hope Whitmarsh has learnt his leason and isnt just mouthing platitudes because he's in a tight spot.

McLaren and Lewis deserve better than this!

If you wanted to pick the carcass of this quote to bits, maybe Whitmarsh was just outwardly thanking Lewis for not throwing him and the team to the wolves after the umpteenth and biggest cockup of the season. Or maybe Whitmarsh is aware of the public perception that Lewis is not "connected" with the team since Ron left the Team Principal post. Or maybe it's "Poachers, stay away from our Lewis!" But honestly, I think this is just an opportunity to do a little PR in the media. Martin wanted to say something nice.

"A poacher that shoots at rabbits might scare the big game away"

[CookinFlat6]

Whitmarsh has said some very nice and complimentary things about LH. Similar to his eulogies for JB last year he has also evoked the spirit of the greatest of them all, Fangio for LH

"To be a great driver like [multiple champion Juan Manuel] Fangio you need greatness in handling setbacks and challenges off the track, and he has excelled in that.

"My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time."


This is all very well and good but it raises some interesting questions;
1. Was he unaware of LHs true potential and character previously? if not could that have affected his handling of LH and JB, could this have caused a mismanagement of his drivers to some degree?
2. If he has only just realised that his balance sheet has a greatly undervalued asset, will he change things to better accomodate this appreciation? If so what exactly that will not be of the detriment to his other number one driver, of whom it was of no fault that Whitmarsh under valued his other asset LH
3. He has admitted making the wrong decision wrt the final Q3 lap, what is he doing to rectify the decision making process that is therefore flawed

If I was a major shareholder or potential stakeholder these are the questions I would be most curious about at a general level to be persuaded that he is not talking to save his job and can keep his two stars

[The Second Coming]

Whitmarsh has said some very nice and complimentary things about LH. Similar to his eulogies for JB last year he has also evoked the spirit of the greatest of them all, Fangio for LH

"To be a great driver like [multiple champion Juan Manuel] Fangio you need greatness in handling setbacks and challenges off the track, and he has excelled in that.

"My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time."


This is all very well and good but it raises some interesting questions;
1. Was he unaware of LHs true potential and character previously? if not could that have affected his handling of LH and JB, could this have caused a mismanagement of his drivers to some degree?
2. If he has only just realised that his balance sheet has a greatly undervalued asset, will he change things to better accomodate this appreciation? If so what exactly that will not be of the detriment to his other number one driver, of whom it was of no fault that Whitmarsh under valued his other asset LH
3. He has admitted making the wrong decision wrt the final Q3 lap, what is he doing to rectify the decision making process that is therefore flawed

If I was a major shareholder or potential stakeholder these are the questions I would be most curious about at a general level to be persuaded that he is not talking to save his job and can keep his two stars

Hmmm...all of this sudden revelation ("Gee,-I-always-knew-you-had-it-in-you-son") on Whitmarsh's part may have gone down in Lewis' notebook for future reference. It now begs the question, what will Lewis do at the end of the year if he misses out on the WDC by 32 points or less (due to all the team's stumbles and fumbles)? Equally, what will he do if he continues his relentless fight and wins the WDC? Stay and go to a year-to-year deal to change the balance in future negotiations and put a bit more pressure on the team? We do know the team will struggle without him. If their car is not up to snuff next and in future years, there aren't any top level drivers on the market that can do what he does...squeezing performance out of a car that doesn't have much. Alonso is tied up. Who else is there? So leverage is the key, yea? Really tough decision ahead of him.

I'm just saying...

[killem2]

I think a lot of you just want this to be 2007 all over again, and I don't get it at all.

You should be thankful that the team has two drivers that actually respect each other.

[What's Burning?]

not me.

I don't think the problem is between the drivers, and I've maintained since the pairing began that McLaren has the best pair on the grid. The problem is in a team that f*s up a certain pole/win weekend with a management decision, while on the other side of the garage they fail to get a second car clearly capable of starting on the front two rows, to make it into Q3.

[The Second Coming]

I think a lot of you just want this to be 2007 all over again, and I don't get it at all.

You should be thankful that the team has two drivers that actually respect each other.

I couldn't give a rat's butt about '07. That seems like forever ago. And I don't think one person on this board has said anything about the drivers not respecting each other. If anything, that's the one problem this team doesn't have (and maybe we should celebrate that fact and throw them a parade down Main Street). My focus is on several things:
1. The dumb stuff McLaren are doing on race weekends...as if they just started racing and feeling their way through. This from a team with a pure racing heritage, umpteen WCC and WDC to their credit.
2. Lewis performing at a very high level despite the team.
3. Watching Jenson fizzle away despite having a good car.

My focus is not any different than Ferrari fans or Red Bull fans: The team needs to 1.Be functional consistently, 2.Give the drivers a good car and 3.Get out of their way so they can do their job. Right now, McLaren seem to only have #2 checked off. This is why, as a fan of the team, I'm so critical. After several years of being hit and miss with bad and average cars, they have their first real shot at the titles and yet it's rubbish weekends followed by Whitmarsh-speak.

I'm just saying...

[acosmichippo]

[emphasis added]

I credited Whitmarsh with his recent praise of Lewis, then I read this

Whitmarsh "My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time."

Is that so? I find that comment beggars belief. Whitmarsh has worked closely with Lewis since Lewis was a 13yr old boy. And only now does he realise lewis' full potential? Its taken 13yrs to arrive at this? Then his judgement of talent and personality is woefully lacking for someone in his position. In fact I cant accept he's suddenly realised this.
So the alternative is, he's known Lewis' capabilities and personality for quite some time but for some reson has a problem with Lewis(His own ego? hang over from the contract row with Anthony?) Dunno, could be anything. And thats fine. We can't help who we like and dislike. But we can treat people we have a problem with professionally and with respect . Whitmarsh hasn't done this with Lewis. His comments and digs over the past couple of years; such as ......Lewis doesnt look after his tyres, Lewis is upset that Jenson beat him, Jenson can run a team and Lewis is learning and on and on and on, All of which Lewis has refuted either by his comments or actions on track; show a lack of respect and consideration for Lewis as a person and as a professional.
So why the sudden change? He's suddenly realised lewis' worth? or he's eternally grateful that lewis didnt stoop to his level and play the pay back game? Lewis had ample reason to do so after this and last season but he rose above it and supported the team. Lets hope Whitmarsh has learnt his leason and isnt just mouthing platitudes because he's in a tight spot.

McLaren and Lewis deserve better than this!

Whitmarsh has said some very nice and complimentary things about LH. Similar to his eulogies for JB last year he has also evoked the spirit of the greatest of them all, Fangio for LH

"To be a great driver like [multiple champion Juan Manuel] Fangio you need greatness in handling setbacks and challenges off the track, and he has excelled in that.

"My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend. The relationship between Lewis and the team is stronger and better and hopefully we will work together for a long time."


This is all very well and good but it raises some interesting questions;
1. Was he unaware of LHs true potential and character previously? if not could that have affected his handling of LH and JB, could this have caused a mismanagement of his drivers to some degree?
2. If he has only just realised that his balance sheet has a greatly undervalued asset, will he change things to better accomodate this appreciation? If so what exactly that will not be of the detriment to his other number one driver, of whom it was of no fault that Whitmarsh under valued his other asset LH
3. He has admitted making the wrong decision wrt the final Q3 lap, what is he doing to rectify the decision making process that is therefore flawed

If I was a major shareholder or potential stakeholder these are the questions I would be most curious about at a general level to be persuaded that he is not talking to save his job and can keep his two stars

Here' the problem with the bolded areas: life is not black and white. It's not simply a matter of Whitmarsh either being totally in the dark, or loving Lewis to the point of adoption. The guy said, "My affection and admiration for Lewis have been enhanced by events this weekend." Since when does "enhanced" mean "discovered everything good that I had been blinded to for 13 years"?

With Lewis' dramatic change in behavior and focus between 2011 and 2012, why shouldn't that be true?

[CookinFlat6]

More hormonal teenage type gushing from Whitmarsh in Autosport;

"His team boss, though, has vowed to do all he can to right the wrongs, saying he will "make sure" everything is in place to help Hamilton become this season's sixth grand prix winner."

I am just a little concerned about the language he uses and the cut and thrust of his message

He will 'make sure' everything is right for LH to win, where does this leave JB? As there can only be one winner and one best strategy, pitstop, crew, tyre gun etc I would be getting worried to hear the boss gushing about helping the other number one driver win at all costs

Should he not have said he would make sure everything was in place for both drivers?

Can anyone explain how doing everything he can to help one win doesn't act to the detriment of his other equal number 1, who probably needs more encouragement after last race?

Also what does this tell us about previous attempts to help one or other of the drivers?

The more I hear from Whitmarsh the more convinced I am of his cavalier attitude towards handling both drivers over the last 3 years

Chap is a loose cannon

[Hammer278]

I think he is trying to keep Hamilton in good spirits, after all it's too easy for him to think of his easy chance for victory taken away by his own team. Whitmarsh is probably trying to 'repay' him with this talk. I'm sure he won't be 'ignoring' Button in any way though, this is all just talk.

[vaptin]

I think cooking was making a point, you could present an equally plausible (relative to the arguments on this thread that Whitmarsh is favouring Jenson, not plausible relative to general perception of plausibility) explanation that Whitmarsh is favouring, likes and prefers Lewis over Jenson.

[andrew]

He praises Button he's favouring him for not praising Lewis.
He praises Hamilton he's doing it for alterior motives.
The bloke can't win!

[The Second Coming]

I think cooking was making a point, you could present an equally plausible (relative to the arguments on this thread that Whitmarsh is favouring Jenson, not plausible relative to general perception of plausibility) explanation that Whitmarsh is favouring, likes and prefers Lewis over Jenson.

If, and I mean a big IF, Whitmarsh were to ever be accused of favouring any driver, it would be Button. Not saying he is, but little things said here and there over the course of a year led many to believe that was/is the case. For goodness sake, we have a "conspiracy" topic that has more life left in it than Max Mosely. (Umm, I have no idea what that means...but you know what I mean ).

It just seems to me Whitmarsh is out of his depth in managing two drivers/different personalities/different skill levels with equal verve. He seems to go heavy on the love with one and then shift his man-crush to the other when the circumstances change. I dear say, Whitmarsh could not live in a society where he was allowed more than one wife. Can you imagine that household?

[CookinFlat6]

Exactly Vaptin

The preference and love for LH that he is displaying now could be fleeting or could be genuine

It's the fact the he is so comfortable in declaring his intention and capability to favour one

Now we know that he is capable of blowing roses up the backside of one whilst relegating the other means that we were right all along. He gets the hots for his drivers and his affections are as fickle as a teenagers
No surprises for guessing who was apple of his eye for so long until circumstances forced him to swing over to the neglected one

And then there is Sam Michael, what the hell is he on the payroll for? To hold Whitmarshes hand?
He is supposed to keep the team on top of raceday rules and regulations?

I wonder if whitmarsh finds him 'disturbingly good looking' also

[acosmichippo]

I can't handle this thread anymore. Just can't do it.

I'll leave you guys to your fantastical dissection of PR soundbytes.