05/04/2009
NEWS STORY
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has rubbished a claim in the British media that Lewis Hamilton was close to quitting the team, indeed F1, in the wake of the Melbourne fiasco which saw the Englishman excluded from the race results.
A report in the Sunday Times claims that the World Champion was left so disheartened by the events of recent days, during which time he has been ridiculed by the media and had his integrity openly questioned, that he wanted to quit. The newspaper also claims that Hamilton contacted FIA President Max Mosley to "express his frustration" at being "misled" by the Woking team
While not carrying quotes from anyone involved in the saga, the Sunday Times claims that Mosley advised Hamilton not to walk away from F1.
Asked about the report, this morning, McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh said he had spoken to Mosley, Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony, and was satisfied that the newspaper report was incorrect.
"The first I knew of it was this morning," Whitmarsh admitted. "We have asked Anthony only five minutes ago if this is true and he told us that Lewis has not spoken to Max.
"On Friday morning both I and Anthony spoke to Max," he added, "but I am told that Lewis has not."
It was clear when Hamilton took the unprecedented step of facing the media alone on Friday that the Englishman was under intense pressure, at times appearing to be on the edge of tears, such was the obvious hurt.
However, Whitmarsh insists that despite the obvious pain and frustration, the youngster remains committed to the sport, and the team that has nurtured him since the age of thirteen.
"I have read some stories this morning but I have obviously spoken to Lewis and Anthony on quite a few occasions," Whitmarsh continued. "In all of those conversations, the commitment from Lewis and Anthony to this team has not altered. There has been no hint of what is reported. At the moment, I don't believe what has been reported.
"Everything that Lewis and Anthony have said to me has been incredibly appreciative and supportive of what this team has done for them and there's been no hint of anything that would cause me to believe that they would contemplate this.
"What we do know is that we've got to learn from the mistakes that have been made," he continued. "I've got to learn... I have made mistakes."