Lewis Hamilton gets McLaren backing

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton should continue to go for broke in his bid for success.

Whitmarsh endured a Canadian Grand Prix of remarkable contrasts on Sunday, initially watching Hamilton retire following a crash with team-mate Jenson Button, before the latter went on to win a sensational race.
For Hamilton, it was yet another dark afternoon in the wake of his performance in Monaco where he was twice involved in accidents with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado in his Williams.
Throw in another minor collision at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Red Bull's Mark Webber, and it would appear Hamilton is struggling mentally.
But Whitmarsh said: "Lewis is a passionate racing driver and he has to go for things.
"He's clearly had an unfortunate run whether you look at it statistically or objectively.
"I suspect I'm not the most impartial, I want Lewis to attack, and obviously I don't want him to have contact with cars.
"But at the same time if he holds hold back for fear of having contact then he won't be the great racer he is and do the job he has to do.
"I'm sure he'll continue to be a very tough racer and have many successes ahead in his career."
Button, who fought his way from 21st and last following another collision, this time with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, also launched a passionate defence of Hamilton, who has come under criticism from former champion Niki Lauda.
"Lewis is in the headlines a lot, and a lot of it is because he is b****y good," said Button.
"He's a racer, a fighter. For me that is the reason why I wanted to be here, against and with a driver that is super talented, one of the best drivers Formula One has ever seen.
"It's good challenging him on the circuit. We have a lot of respect for each other, we've raced each other a lot this year, and last year, and we've never touched. We've always given each other room.
"For me that's a great position to be in.
"So I don't agree with what Niki has said. I think his driving style is aggressive and he always goes for gaps.
"Sometimes he's right, sometimes he's not, but it's the same for all of us. He just finds himself in that situation more often than others.
"Lewis is a character, one that Formula One obviously loves."
Mercedes Motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug is a man who watched Hamilton develop and mature at McLaren for many years when the German manufacturer were intrinsically linked with the team.
Haug is convinced Hamilton will brush off the criticism, especially from the likes of three-times champion Lauda who said the 26- year-old is "completely mad" and would one day kill somebody on the track.
"I understand Lewis perfectly and I will defend him," said Haug.
"He is a great driver, a friend and I do not share the criticism that is on him.
"There are difficult times you have to go through, but he will deliver okay. He is one of the great guys in the field.
Hamilton's camp denied talks had been held with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner over a potential move for the driver.

With another year remaining on his current McLaren contract after this one, it has often been suggested Hamilton could move to Red Bull or Ferrari from 2013 onwards.
Hamilton met Horner in the Red Bull paddock buildings at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday. It is understood the two men held a 15-minute conversation.
However a spokesman for XIX Entertainment, which represents Hamilton, said: "Neither Lewis nor his management team have had any discussions with regard to Lewis moving to another team.
"He is happy at McLaren, and is positive he can still have a say in this year's world championship."