McLaren: “No Plan B” if Hamilton leaves

When plan B doesn’t work, don’t panic, there are 24 other letters. The issue for the McLaren team is a bit more complex. Indeed, Martin Whitmarsh, director of the British team, stated: « I don’t have a plan B. We want Lewis to stay, and we want him to stay if he wants to stay. » A statement that comes as Lewis Hamilton’s future remains uncertain.

For a few weeks, persistent rumors have linked Michael Schumacher’s departure from Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton not extending his contract with McLaren, thus sending the 2008 world champion to a seat at the Silver Arrows. This is notably what Eddie Jordan, a consultant for the BBC and former team director, stated during the Belgian Grand Prix. Reacting to this statement, Mr. Whitmarsh described it as « fantasy ».

A situation of uncertainty arises as Lewis Hamilton, following his victory in Italy, positions himself as a serious contender for the title race. « I can imagine we will have some discussions before Singapore, » stated the McLaren director, before adding: « I have certain priorities, such as trying to win a championship, and you focus your time, energy, and concentration on those things. One of them is making the car faster, better; another is addressing operational issues to ensure you don’t make mistakes, and another is taking care of your own drivers. But, rightly or wrongly, I haven’t spent much energy on [this last point]. »

Part of the Woking team’s fold since the age of 12, the British driver has gradually climbed the ranks of motorsport, notably winning the Formula 3 championship in 2005 and then GP2 in 2006. In 2007, he was promoted to a full-time seat at McLaren, alongside the reigning double world champion at the time, Fernando Alonso, a position he has not left since, claiming his only world champion title in 2008. L. Hamilton had stated before the break that he wanted his future settled before the season resumed. It is clear that doubt still lingers. « It’s a small paddock and they [the people from XIX Entertainment, the company that manages Lewis Hamilton, ed.] have to do their job, as you can imagine, so I’m not surprised. I do have some knowledge, actually, about what’s going on. »

On the side of certain F1 Circus observers, like James Allen, correspondent for BBC Radio 5 Live, things are clear: Hamilton is indeed going to leave McLaren for Mercedes. Driver contracts are often signed during race weekends, and there were strong indications that the situation was close to resolution before everyone left Monza, writes the British journalist on his website www.jamesallenonf1.com. Hamilton is acting as if he’s going to leave, perhaps it is the only way for him to become his own master, certainly the only way for him and XIX Entertainment to fully capitalize on his status. […] Mercedes is one of the most powerful brands in the world, while McLaren makes F1 and small sports cars. This agreement will place Hamilton’s name and image beyond the limits of F1. If Hamilton didn’t want this, why would he have signed with XIX?

James Allen goes further: « For McLaren, it was not just a reluctance to agree on financial terms, but also a weariness with all the pantomime of “Life with Lewis.” The tweet of the setup sheet at Spa was a symbolic turning point in a relationship that had deteriorated since the enthusiasm of 2007. »

In the event of Lewis Hamilton’s departure, the question arises regarding the potential identity of his replacement. On this front, J. Allen does not lack options, some more likely than others. The first being Paul di Resta, whose new manager, Richard Goddard, is also the manager of Jenson Button: « There is great goodwill between Goddard and Whitmarsh ». Another possibility suggested by the journalist is Kimi Räikkönen, who knows the McLaren team well, having driven for them from 2002 to 2006. Finland seems to be favored by F1 observers as the Daily Mail mentions the possibility of Heikki Kovalainen, a former member of the Woking team, while Oskari Saari, a commentator for the MTV3 channel, highlights the case of Valtteri Bottas. Finally, Allen mentions Sergio Pérez, the young Mexican driver particularly interesting to Vodafone, which has been trying for several years to expand its influence in Latin America, especially in Brazil, where Telmex and America Movil, two sponsors of the Sauber driver, could help the British brand develop.

On Martin Whitmarsh’s side, the issue of the second driver, in case Lewis Hamilton departs, doesn’t seem to be a concern: « The development of the car for next year is the work of the technicians, engineers, and designers. The drivers, except when they are sitting inside, are not so intimately involved in the process. »