McLaren has responded to its former boss Martin Whitmarsh’s claims regarding the on-going issues within the Formula 1 team amid a sluggish 2018 season.
Whitmarsh mentioned in an interview that he received messages and letters from within the team regarding the internal troubles they are facing after difficult last few seasons with Honda and now also with Renault.
Until last season, the Woking-based outfit claimed that its chassis was top notch and that they were held back because of the Honda unit. However, having made the switch to Renault this year, even though they have scored solid points but they are lacking in pace.
As per Whitmarsh, this has led to tensed situation within the team as the former team principal suggested that some of the high-end figures needs to go with the outfit requiring a ‘change of approach’.
But McLaren’s spokesperson has denied all the claims in a note to Sky Sports F1. “Martin worked for McLaren for many years, but has been outside the business for some time and is not part of our future,” it said.
“What he said was ill-judged and ill-informed in our view but he is entitled to his opinion. There are high expectations in the team and we won’t compromise those high expectations. Everyone at McLaren is working tremendously hard and is focused on the future, not the past.”
Whitmarsh had served the team between 2009 and 2014 after which Ron Dennis took control who was then succeeded by Zak Brown. He had been away from the F1 paddock largely but was seen in the McLaren pits during the Spanish GP on a friendly visit.
With Red Bull Racing also using the Renault unit alongside the factory outfit, McLaren has been exposed being the slowest of the three teams. It has largely struggled in qualifying where the drivers are unable to qualify regularly inside the Top 10.
It sits sixth in the standings with 40 points – 16 behind Renault and 12 ahead of Force India – but in a direct match to Red Bull, they are 94 points behind, with a best of fifth place courtesy Fernando Alonso in Australia.
