Three-time world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, has put his view across on what he believes will be the pecking order at McLaren in 2010.
The 71-year old insists that, although Jenson Button is reigning world champion, it will be his fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton who will be favoured at the Woking-based squad with regards car upgrades and support.
“Lewis Hamilton is extremely well established there,” Stewart told The Telegraph. “I still believe that whatever anybody says about No 1s and No 2s, Lewis will be the natural No 1; the known commodity for the McLaren management and individuals. That for me still clearly portrays walking into the lions’ den.”
The Scotsman, who managed 17 pole-positions and 27 race wins in his 8 years behind the wheel, agreed with The F1 Times’ prediction that, despite believing that Lewis will be the team’s number one, there won’t be any discord between the two drivers.
“I have no doubt at all that Jenson will be made to feel welcome within the McLaren family,” he said.
“My only point is that when you are going in with someone as well established as Lewis is you choose carefully.
Despite Jenson telling the media on several occasions that his move from Brawn to McLaren was something he had longed for and was a move he, himself, had instigated Stewart believes that this is not true, and in his heart-of-hearts Button wanted to stay with Brawn.
“My gut feeling is that Button would have preferred to stay at Brawn-Mercedes. Whether he turned down the money while he was still in negotiations with Ross [Brawn], or whether Mercedes decided they didn’t like what they saw in the second half of last season performance-wise, I don’t know.”
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