McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh fully expects Lewis Hamilton to remain at the Woking based outfit for the forseeable future.
The 27-year-old’s contract at McLaren ends this season and speculation has him linked to several rival outfits including Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.
However, despite the links and the hints that he may be required to take a pay cut, Whitmarsh is confident Hamilton will remain with the team which has been a part of his life since he was seven.
“There’s much more speculation outside of the team than inside the team. I think we’re focused on winning the races and winning a championship,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I think it’s very clear that we enjoy working with Lewis. I think Lewis enjoys being in this team. So we have full expectation of that continuing.
“He’s going to have many years ahead of him. He’s going to have many great wins ahead of him. I believe he’ll have those in this team.”
Whitmarsh doesn’t believe the current situation, in which McLaren have been prone to making mistakes which have cost the 2008 champion points, will drive him away either.
“People look for, ‘is now a pivotal moment, or is this a special moment?’ I think [in] all of our careers we are progressing, we’re trying to improve, we’re trying to achieve our goals. That’s what he’s trying to do; we’re working with him and there’s a really good relationship at the moment. The main goal for all of us is to win this year’s championship.”
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