Perez was also involved in a battle with Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen as he forced
him to run on to the grass at one stage, resulting in an angry response from
the Finn over the team radio as he exclaimed: “What the hell is he
doing?”
The stewards, however, saw nothing wrong with Perez’s driving, which is
exactly how Whitmarsh wants him to be.
“As I said to him, I think he has been very polite so far this year,”
said Whitmarsh
“He needs to toughen up as he has so far been generous in allowing people
past him. Yesterday he was a bit more robust.
“He didn’t mention the incident at all, but I said to him I support him,
that when he is out there racing he has to use his elbows. It’s right to be
robust without being dirty.”
Whitmarsh appreciates the 23 year-old may so far be overawed by how well
Button has performed.
“I know Sergio is not satisfied with his performance at the weekend, nor
should he be,” added Whitmarsh.
“He’s a young driver, he’s had a difficult weekend, we haven’t given him
a great car so far, and he’s up against someone in Jenson who has done a
fantastic job with the car we have.
“A lot of credit to Jenson, but we as a team have to step up and support
a young driver who has an enormous amount of talent.
“With these sorts of tyres, which are very fragile, with the balance not
quite there, with tricky racing, he did a reasonable job.
“As a young guy in a big team with lots of expectations you are under a
lot more scrutiny, and it’s tougher when you’ve a team-mate doing a great
job, so there is pressure there.”
Asked whether Perez agreed with his assessment, the Mexican remained cool as
Whitmarsh said: “Like most drivers, good ones, they don’t get too
flapped by it all.
“I told him he has my support, but that he has to be tough.”
Edited by Vicki Hodges