McLaren ready for 'crisis summit'
2012-07-10 13:23
PLAYING CATCH-UP IN F1: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has yet to renew his 2013 race contract with McLaren as the team’s 2012 title hopes falter.
LONDON, England - Lewis Hamilton "is ready" to open talks with Lotus, according to the London Daily Mail.
Hamilton's lucrative contract with McLaren runs out at the end of 2012 and while he is expected to ultimately sign a new deal, he is reportedly at loggerheads over the level of his pay and other details, such as the right to keep his trophies.
Hamilton has also expressed concerns about McLaren's faltering 2012 campaign after seeing his championship deficit grow to 37 points after a poor weekend at Silverstone.
'SOMBRE AFFAIR'
Asked if he is worried Hamilton may be jumping ship, team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: "No, I think he's smarter than that. He's got to want to stay in this team, which I believe he does."
Whether Hamilton stays or goes, McLaren's post-race technical debriefing at Woking is being billed by the British media as a "crisis summit".
Team mate Jenson Button predicted it will be a "sombre" affair while Whitmarsh admitted: "I'm not desperate but I am worried."
When asked about the ailing MP4-27, Button responded: "I wonder what would happen if you put another driver in it? I bet they would get a real shock."
