Whitmarsh: Button has not joined for money

Wednesday 18th November 2009

Martin Whitmarsh has denied that Jenson Button has joined McLaren for money - and obliquely ruled out a repeat of the civil war that almost tore the team apart when Fernando Alonso partnered Lewis Hamilton.

Having effectively opted to build the team around Hamilton for the past two seasons, McLaren have ditched Heikki Kovalainen for what Whitmarsh believes will be will be "not only have the fastest pairing on the 2010 grid, but also the two most complete, professional and dedicated drivers in Formula 1."

However, the appointment of Button at the expense of the placid and ultimate team-player Kovalainen carries the risk of a repeat of the in-fighting that derailed McLaren in 2007. Whitmarsh, though, foresees no reason for alarm and believes the pairing will prove beneficial for all.

"I'm confident that we'll be able to successfully balance and harness Jenson's and Lewis's complementary skill-sets. Our engineers are already looking forward to working with Jenson, and I'm convinced that such a strong and dynamic driver line-up will make us an even more complete and competitive operation. Now we have to provide Jenson and Lewis with race-winning machinery."

The McLaren team boss also insisted that money had not been a motivating factor in Button's decision to join the team.

"I want to make clear that Jenson's decision to join us was in no way motivated by money. We'll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere, and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson's belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season," he said.

"We're ambitious, we're motivated and we're hungrier than ever. We make no secret of our ambition for next year: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes wants to win both World Championships - and, with Jenson and Lewis, we believe we're better equipped than any other team in the pitlane to do exactly that."

Your Comments

corbs

"neti1 - yes I believe robson revells in it!.. If you go back a few months, I think there were a couple of times when a few of us did agree with him. It's fair to say that our mate robson loves stirring things up...the fact that you wrote what you did and I am responding will put one big smile on his/her dial I am sure!!"

neti1

"Corbs: "robson...on behalf of all sane F1 fans...please...be quiet!"

Does Robson really enjoy being the most disliked, and mocked, poster on this site? He seems to be regarded with universal contempt - I can't recall even one other poster ever supporting him, or making any positive response to him at all.

Why on earth would he see that as a desirable situation? I'm genuinely curious."

Brent

"Chylout, I live in and pay taxes to the country that gave me my opportunities in life, I could make more abroad. The taxes I pay today(the highest bracket, similar to England)better my country and support tommorrows children. If that is self righteous, then I am. Maybe part of Raikkonen's need for more is because he pays taxes in his own country. Button and Hamilton each get another house and a new supercar, the kids of England get another sports budget cut. Is that the way it should be?"

Chylout

"robson - what have they done to his former team other than take it from strength to strength? Lets see - they have the two most recent champs driving for them, they have secured Merc engines for the next 2 years minimum, after which they will introduce their own. They have gained a �300m investment from Merc to compensate for ending their agreement. Seems all good to me. Your comment lacks a lot of foresight (or perhaps its just designed to wind up...)"

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