Although McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said in Italy that there was
“no Plan B” in the event that Hamilton did not re-sign, it is simply not
credible that the Woking team have not explored their options. Indeed,
Sauber’s Sergio Perez — a Ferrari academy driver but not wanted at Maranello
for 2013 — is understood to head up a list that also includes the Force
India pair of Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg.
Hamilton, though, says he will not be rushing his decision. Speaking at a team
sponsor event in Mumbai yesterday, the 27-year-old said he would not let the
rumours and “rubbish” swirling around his contract negotiations distract him
from his main focus. “I don’t have a timeframe,” he said of the decision.
“My focus is on trying to win this world championship. There’s a lot of
speculation, there are a lot of stories that aren’t true. The most important
thing is that I do not get distracted by all the rubbish that’s been around.”