McLaren Rule Out No 1 Status for Hamilton... Yet

Ten rounds of the 2010 Formula One season have gone and McLaren Mercedes has the advantage of heading the championship classification in both the manufacturers' and drivers' races, the latter having Lewis Hamilton lead his reigning champion of a teammate Jenson Button by 12 points. Yet, with half of season still left, the British team is not ready to make a decision on a No 1 driver for the 2010 campaign.

As long as the two drivers are distanced by less than a race win, there's no telling who will hold this status in the dying events of the season. Obviously, McLaren would prefer if one driver will stand out in the title fight by then, but for the time being Hamilton will not be treated as a favorite driver within the team.

“Not yet,” said McLaren's team principal Martin Whitmarsh, when asked about handing Hamilton the No 1 status within the Woking based team.

“I'm sure Jenson hasn't given way to Lewis and he will want to win this weekend and move that momentum back in his favor,” added Whitmarsh in a teleconference.

A Red Bull type of situation is something all teams want to avoid during the course of an F1 season, let alone an outfit that is currently fighting for both titles in the series. Consequently, McLaren have taken every step in ensuring total equity between its drivers, with Hamilton insisting he will not clash personally with Button.

“No, there's respect,” said Hamilton, who has the same number of wins as his teammate in the 2010 season so far.