“My job will be to make sure that both Jenson and Lewis not only have the very best tools to do the job, but can also prosper and flourish in an environment that supports them both equally,” said the British official for the official website of Formula One.
Earlier this month, Hamilton made a couple of statements which may have been considered a bit tendentious towards Button. First, he didn't nominalize his new teammate on the list of drivers to challenge him for the title next season, and secondly he warned Button he plans on getting back the world title in 2010.
Prior to that, it has emerged that the true reasons why Button left Mercedes GP for McLaren Mercedes were not related to money, but the need to prove anyone that he can beat Lewis with the same car and having the same chances for the championship.
However, Whitmarsh once again called for moderation prior to the new season, despite the fact that McLaren has a recent history in not being able to control their drivers in the championship battle (Ham vs Alonso back in 2007).
“Is that an additional challenge for the management in this team? Yes. Do we anticipate it providing us with an additional workload in order for us to successfully achieve equality for two very demanding racers? Inevitably, yes. Are we anticipating any difficulties or frustrations from either party? No - because we're confident that we can build a team that will support both drivers equally,” added the British official, who also admitted he trusts in his driver's maturity to avoid conflictual situations next year.
“I think Jenson and Lewis are mature enough and responsible enough to understand the bigger picture: we go racing as a team, and it's the successes we achieve together that build the foundations for any assault on the World Championship. I feel confident that you'll see a very solid and responsible driver pairing next year.”
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