McLaren boss 'expects' Lewis Hamilton to stay

Lewis Hamilton

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh is confident Lewis Hamilton will sign a new deal that will keep him at the team.

The 2008 world champion’s current contract is up at the end of the season, and it is still not known whether the Briton will stay or leave the team he has been associated with since the age of 13.

Earlier in the week, Hamilton hinted at a departure by wanting a car capable of winning, saying: “There are lots of things to take into account. These people have supported me; these are the people that got me into Formula One.

“But, you know, I want to win. I'm not that young any more so I want to make sure that whatever I do I make the right decision so I can maximise my career, you know. I just need to make sure that I'm winning. That's what I exist for, that's what I train and work for every day.”

Despite this, Whitmarsh believes his driver will sign a new contract. “I'm expecting that we will,” he said when asked the question everyone wants to know the answer to, speaking during a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in. “Lewis has been a member of this team for a long time.

“We have been concentrating on a season - I think there's been more speculation, more concern, more interest in this situation in the media than perhaps within the team or in Lewis' mind. We appear nowadays to be asked questions about it but I don't think it occupies as much time in our minds as it does in column inches.”

Whitmarsh feels McLaren being off the pace of reigning and double world champions Red Bull, and Ferrari, won’t play a role in Hamilton’s decision.

“I don't [think poor form could harm McLaren's chances of retaining Hamilton], because we're going to the next two races trying to win as we go to every race, and I think Lewis is more intelligent than that and I would hope so is most of the media,” commented Whitmarsh.

With Mark Webber staying on with Red Bull alongside back-to-back world champion Sebastian Vettel, there isn’t a seat available there in 2013. Ferrari have Fernando Alonso tied down to the team for the long term, but Felipe Massa’s future is in doubt.

Ferrari could be an option for Hamilton, as well as Mercedes, who are still waiting for Michael Schumacher to come to a decision on his future as well. Lotus are also another team being linked with Hamilton.

But, Hamilton will remain at McLaren, if Whitmarsh is that confident.

İsmail Vedat- Follow me on twitter

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