McLaren have suggested that they may ask Jenson Button to support Lewis Hamilton’s title bid, but only when the time is right.
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh, speaking during a Vodafone phone-in, admitted that McLaren would be open to using team orders, but not until later in the season.
“There may well come a point, but with nine races to go and 25 points per race things can change quite quickly.
“We must be measured when we talk to the drivers about when they put their support behind another driver,” he said.
Button currently sits 41 points behind his team-mate Hamilton, who himself sits a further 47 points off current leader Fernando Alonso. But that won’t effect Button’s chances of victory in Belgium this weekend, with Whitmarsh insisting both have equal status.
“I think the good news is that we go into Spa and both our drivers will be trying to win. Jenson has had some strong showings before the break and he is a very intelligent driver.
“It would be quite a few races’ time before we would look at the situation. Jenson is a winner. He and Lewis have a great relationship but Jenson will try to beat Lewis this weekend.”
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