Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, Whitmarsh cannot escape the
gossip dominating the Monza paddock.
“Media like that sort of speculation,” said Whitmarsh. “I’ve been doing this
job too long to be surprised by it.
“It’s a fairly incestuous paddock so you tend to know – certainly if you have
been around over 20 years – what’s going on.
“Often stories that get circulated are blown out of proportion for
entertainment reasons or whatever.
“The important thing is we don’t spend any time, energy or concentration on
stuff like that. We just concentrate on doing our job.
“Lewis and his management have assured me of their intentions, we’re focused
on working together at the moment.
“This weekend is important for Lewis. He needs to ensure he gets his
championship hunt back on track, and that’s what he wants as well.
“There’s going to be all sorts of speculation, but we are really focused on
making sure we do a good job here in Monza.”
Crucial for Whitmarsh, though, is signing a driver who, after 14 years with
McLaren, is motivated to continue with the team.
There was an element to Hamilton’s tweeting last weekend in Spa, and which
landed him in hot water, that suggested all is not as it should be in his
McLaren world.
It is why Whitmarsh cannot be 100% certain Hamilton will stay as he added:
“Ultimately a driver has to drive where he is happy to drive.
“So we (the team) and I don’t want anyone not 100% committed to it. You can’t
work like that. I’ve made it clear from the outset.
“Now lots of very positive things have been said to me.
“But there again, I’ve learned over the years that until people support that
by inking the paper then you don’t get too excited about it.”
There is every indication this is a situation likely to remain ongoing for
another few weeks, certainly until next month.
That would appear unhealthy for all concerned, particularly with a
championship battle bubbling away, with Hamilton still in the hunt at 47
points adrift of championship leader Fernando Alonso.
Whitmarsh, though, is unconcerned, adding: “It will get resolved when it is,
but I don’t think it is as big an issue in this team as it possibly is in
the media room.
“For us, it’s not a distraction. For the engineers, technicians, mechanics,
it’s business as usual.”
Instead, Whitmarsh feels Hamilton is more distracted by the death last week of
a close aunt, Diane, who lost her battle against cancer.
“He has been a little heavy-hearted, with real, genuine reason of course,”
said Whitmarsh.
“Those issues in his personal life have probably had a bigger impact than all
of this media hype at the moment.
“But he has come here, he is clearly focused on that (the race), so I’m not
going to talk to him about contracts.
“One, because it’s inappropriate; two, because it’s the wrong time. We want to
focus on winning a race.”
It is why all negotiations are being conducted with Fuller rather than
Hamilton personally, although with the impresario casting an eye over
another of his clients, Andy Murray in New York at the US Open, talks have
stalled this weekend.
“I have plenty of personal contact with the driver, but he always gives me
plenty of other things to talk to him about,” said Whitmarsh.
“I don’t think it’s right for him to get involved in negotiations, that’s why
we have managers.
“Most of them are in New York at the moment, but when they are here we can
talk to them.
“We’ve still got the telephone so we might be able to sort something out.”