Hamilton wants to win on merit
As there is much talk about the role Jenson Button could play in helping Lewis Hamilton secure a second world championship title, the Briton sidesteps the topic and declares that he wants to win because he deserves it, not because he received help from anyone.
The season is back on track, and the championship is particularly open, with five drivers still legitimately aiming for the world crown. At McLaren, Jenson Button’s situation is delicate as he is 88 points behind Fernando Alonso, while Lewis Hamilton concedes 47 points to the Ferrari driver.
Many observers therefore expect Button to more or less quickly lend his support to his teammate to help him make up for his deficit against his opponents by taking points from them.
« Jenson runs for the team and the points he can score are a good thing, » estimates Hamilton.
But for the Brit, there’s no question of giving team orders: « I don’t see the race that way. In the past, drivers have let their teammates pass to win the championship, but that doesn’t seem correct to me. If you’re not fast enough, then you’re not fast enough. I want to win because I’m the fastest, not because I received points from someone else. »
Comments that will please Jenson Button, who for his part has no intention of playing second fiddle just yet: « 40 points [between the two McLaren drivers] is not a lot, it’s less than 2 victories. So helping Lewis is not on the agenda yet. We will race and do our best until one of us wins the championship or until it is no longer possible, » notes the 2009 champion in the Spa paddock.
From our correspondent at Spa-Francorchamps
