Publications
Partners
Lewis Hamitlon "destroyed" Fernando Alonso as a rookie in 2007 but this season he underestimated team mate Jenson Button, says McLaren.
That is the claim of McLarn team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who admitted to F1's official website that Hamilton has endured an unusually bad season in 2011.
Whitmarsh said: "Lewis expects more from himself and the world expects more from Lewis. There's been a lot going on in his life."
At the same time, Button - written off by some who thought he was entering Hamilton's "lion's den" after his championship year - has surprised the F1 world by beating his highly rated team mate this season.
'EASILY UNDERESTIMATED'
Whitmarsh said: "Button is a person that is easily underestimated.
"Sometimes that might be a worry before you know him better, but I have to say that I know him a lot better now," he said.
Whitmarsh thinks Hamilton also underestimated Button initially.
Whitmarsh said: "Possibly. He probably did, yes. Let's be open about it.
"Lewis, throughout his career, has destroyed every team mate that's come his way. Bear in mind that in many ways he virtually destroyed Fernando Alonso when Fernando was a two-time world champion and Lewis was a rookie," he said.
That is the claim of McLarn team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who admitted to F1's official website that Hamilton has endured an unusually bad season in 2011.
Whitmarsh said: "Lewis expects more from himself and the world expects more from Lewis. There's been a lot going on in his life."
At the same time, Button - written off by some who thought he was entering Hamilton's "lion's den" after his championship year - has surprised the F1 world by beating his highly rated team mate this season.
'EASILY UNDERESTIMATED'
Whitmarsh said: "Button is a person that is easily underestimated.
"Sometimes that might be a worry before you know him better, but I have to say that I know him a lot better now," he said.
Whitmarsh thinks Hamilton also underestimated Button initially.
Whitmarsh said: "Possibly. He probably did, yes. Let's be open about it.
"Lewis, throughout his career, has destroyed every team mate that's come his way. Bear in mind that in many ways he virtually destroyed Fernando Alonso when Fernando was a two-time world champion and Lewis was a rookie," he said.