Whitmarsh claims McLaren treating Hamilton and Button equally

London: Team boss Martin Whitmarsh has said McLaren treats both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button equally. “Lewis won three grand prix in 2011, one of only three drivers to win more than one,” The Sun quoted Whitmarsh, as saying after he was asked whether he required to have a serious chat with the Brit.

“Some of the most compelling highlights of last season, from the point of view of a racer`s sheer talent shining through, were provided by Lewis,” he added. He urged people not to read anything into McLaren’s decision to give Button first crack at their new car. McLaren launches their new car next week, which they hope will drive them ahead of rivals Red Bull and champion Sebastian Vettel. Button will drive the MP4-27 for the first two days of Formula One``s opening pre-season test at Jerez, Spain. “Both Jenson and Lewis will be spending a lot of time in Spain over the next few weeks and both are raring to go,” he added. He said McLaren is lucky to have two world champions in their driver line-up and there is nothing to ponder over Button starting the pre-season testing schedule. “We`re fortunate we have two world champions in our driver line-up, a claim that can be made by no other team and McLaren`s ethos has always been, and remains, to treat both its drivers as equal No1s,” “It just so happens our pre-season testing schedule has Jenson driving first and Lewis second but it could just as easily have been the other way around,” he added. ANI