Skip to content

Whitmarsh: Lewis supportive of team

McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh says Lewis Hamilton remains right behind the team despite their fuel miscalculation costing him pole position.

McLaren chief says Lewis right behind him and the team

McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh says Lewis Hamilton has thrown his support behind the team in wake of the costly fuel error that has relegated the Briton to the back of the grid for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. On Saturday night stewards at the Circuit de Catalunya stripped the 2008 World Champion of pole after discovering that the Briton's MP4-27 had insufficient fuel in it for both the mandatory post-qualifying fuel sample and to complete the in-lap. Having rejected McLaren's defence of 'force majeure' and cancelled what would have been Hamilton's 22nd career pole, the 27-year-old has vowed to "give it everything" from 24th on the grid and his McLaren Team Principal insists the is in the right frame of mind to do just that. Speaking to Sky Sports News' Rachel Brookes on Sunday morning about Hamilton's reaction to the penalty, Whitmarsh said: "Lewis found out probably a few hours afterwards. "It was some time in deliberation as you know and his reaction initially was one of shock and disappointment, which is very human. "But I've got to say I had a number of conversations with him during the course of the evening until about 10 o'clock last night and at the end he was incredibly brave about it and forthright and very supportive of the team and myself and just determined to say, okay that's how it is, I've got to go and race tomorrow and I'll make an exciting race." Some of Hamilton's best performances in Formula 1 have come in wake of adversity since arriving in the sport in 2007 and Whitmarsh says the driver is determined to come right through the order during the 66 laps at Barcelona. "He is just that - he is someone who doesn't give up," Whitmarsh added. "He's going to give everything he can, certainly we've made it difficult for him but he's going to be very fired up and he will produce everything he can and hopefully get up [the order] and score some points."

Around Sky