McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh insists he would not favour one driver over another.
Team boss points to 2007 as example to Ferrari
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has added his voice to the Ferrari-Hockenheim controversy by insisting he would not favour one driver over another.
Ferrari sparked controversy at the German Grand Prix by giving Felipe Massa coded orders to allow Fernando Alonso, who is ahead of his team-mate in the drivers' championship, to pass and win the race.
Whitmarsh points to the 2007 season, when McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Alonso both finished one point behind overall winner Kimi Raikkonen, as evidence that his team do things differently.
Sacrificed
"We sacrificed a World Championship in 2007," he told the
Daily Telegraph. "We lost by one point. Had we leaned in my opinion to the advantage of one of our two drivers that year - and there were lots of temptations to do so - then it would have made enough of a difference to have acquired the extra point to have won.
"There is always a bit of you which says we shouldn't have done that but overall I'm proud we did.
"Had we leant to give the advantage to one of our drivers then it would have made enough of a difference to have acquired the extra point to have won the championship.
"I remember talking to the drivers and their management. I said a great driver would want to look themselves in the mirror and say, 'I have won this championship on merit, not by the team leaning one way and giving me an advantage'.
"We do desperately want to win but it's about how you win. If you win and you know you have cheated then I don't see how at any stage in your career - or post-career when you reflect upon it - you can have that feeling of ecstasy."
