Speaking at a phone-in for team sponsors Vodafone, Whitmarsh indicated the
uncertainty was far from overwhelming.
He added: “Lewis has been a member of this team for a long time, and we
have been concentrating on a season.
“I think there’s been more speculation, more concern, more interest in
this situation in the media than perhaps within the team or in Lewis’ mind.
“We appear nowadays to be asked questions about it, but I don’t think it
occupies as much time in our minds as it does in column inches.”
Whitmarsh has again firmly reiterated his belief McLaren’s drop in form – with
Hamilton eighth and team-mate Jenson Button 10th in the British Grand Prix
10 days ago – would have no bearing on the 27-year-old’s decision.
“No, I don’t, because we’re going to the next two races trying to win as
we go to every race,” said Whitmarsh.
“I think Lewis is more intelligent than that and, I would hope, so are
most of the media.”
Despite Hamilton’s indication of an August resolution, Whitmarsh has also made
it clear he has no concerns should talks progress into the second half of
the campaign.
“I don’t think we should put any time frame on it,” said Whitmarsh.
“For both parties it’s something that’s got to be determined, preferably
before the end of the season.
“But I don’t think there’s any need to do so against any tight time
frame.”
For McLaren, the sole objective this weekend is to rediscover the pace lost in
the last two races at Valencia and Silverstone since Hamilton’s win in
Canada.
Hamilton goes into the German Grand Prix, the 100th of his Formula One career,
trailing championship leader Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari by 37 points,
with the Briton also behind Red Bull duo Webber and Sebastian Vettel in the
standings.
As for Button, 79 points off the pace after collecting seven from a possible
150 over the last six races, his title hopes are all but over barring a
miracle comeback.
Button conceded at Silverstone McLaren were no longer fighting Ferrari and Red
Bull on pace, but instead the likes of Williams and Sauber.
With both McLarens due to sport a significant bodywork upgrade this weekend
centring on the sidepods, the hope is it will bring them closer to their
rivals.
Button knows he cannot endure another weekend like Silverstone where he
qualified 18th and finished 10th.
“Fighting for one point at the end is not what we should be doing as a
team, as McLaren,” said Button.
“We’re a front-running team, one of the best in the world, and we can
fight through this.
“The team are multiple world champions, and we will improve the car. It
is just a surprise there are so many competitive teams out there, and a step
ahead of us.
“So these final back-to-back races before we head into the summer break
are important for the whole team.
“Coming off the back of a couple of disappointing weekends, it’s
important we capitalise on the opportunities available in Germany and
Hungary.”