McLaren have rallied round Lewis Hamilton after their driver came in for yet more criticism following the Singapore Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old has endured an unhappy season that has been filled with race incidents and several trips to the stewards’ office. While Hamilton himself has often portrayed himself as being victimised, his detractors have been scathing in their criticism with Felipe Massa – the man who the Briton pipped to the 2008 world championship on the very last lap of the very last race – particularly vocal after the pair collided around the Marina Bay circuit two weekends ago.
However, despite the Brazilian’s rhetoric and his demands for the FIA to sanction the driver, McLaren have stood by their man and are unconcerned – if not altogether satisfied – with Hamilton’s drama-laden season.
“We want Lewis to make less mistakes, I guess, but equally we don’t want to stop him driving in the way he does,” said McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe.
“I think he’s the most entertaining driver – very, very fast, very good at progressing through the race even if he doesn’t start from the front.
“That’s allowed him to win 16 races and a world championship. We don’t want to erode that spirit. That’s what makes him what he is, and the driver everybody enjoys.”
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