“I am sure you have heard it all before, but there isn’t anything else to say
on the matter. If we learn from this mistake, you will see a much stronger
McLaren next season.”
Button also denied that the departure of Lowe had contributed to McLaren’s
woes, or that a lack of technical direction was to blame.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Paddy is a great guy, but I don’t think one
individual is the reason we are not performing. Our mistake was at the end
of last year, when we decided to go the way we did with the car. Trying to
find your way back from that is so, so difficult.”
On the subject of Whitmarsh, whose role is believed to have come under serious
scrutiny, Button was again supportive. “It’s very easy for everyone to point
the finger at the person who is leading the team,” he said, “but I think he
has a lot of respect.
“He is a human being, that’s so important. He will go into the factory and
say, ‘We messed up.’ He is not going to point the finger at any one. He will
take the blame. I really like that with Martin – I think he is a really good
leader.”