Hamilton says he has not learned from Button at McLaren
Lewis Hamilton has dismissed claims that he has learned from Jenson Button during their three seasons as McLaren teammates, as contract talks continue.
Lewis Hamilton has rejected suggestions that he has learned from Jenson Button during their time together at McLaren, despite team principal Martin Whitmarsh’s recent comments about the pair’s partnership.
Whitmarsh had praised the dynamic between the two British drivers, claiming they benefit from learning from each other. Hamilton, however, told El Pais that he could not identify anything he had learned from Button in their three seasons as teammates. “I don’t know why Martin would say that, as I couldn’t say what I have learned from Jenson,” Hamilton said. He contrasted this with his 2007 season alongside Fernando Alonso, saying he did learn from the Spaniard.
The comments come at a delicate time for McLaren, with Hamilton’s contract negotiations ongoing and speculation about his future mounting. Button has already indicated he is keen to remain at McLaren beyond 2012, while Hamilton has admitted he is considering his options. “It would be nice to end where I began, but when your contract expires, you look around to see what else there is,” he said.
Relationship under strain
Hamilton’s remarks follow a period of tension between the two drivers. Button publicly criticised Hamilton after the so-called ‘Twittergate’ incident, when Hamilton posted confidential team telemetry on social media during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton later apologised, saying he had not intended to undermine his teammate or the team, and insisted it would not happen again.
Button’s own management situation has also become entangled with Hamilton’s circle. Force India driver Paul di Resta, previously managed by Hamilton’s father Anthony, has switched to a management partnership involving Button. This shift has added another layer to the rivalry between the McLaren drivers.
Contract uncertainty and future options
With his contract set to expire at the end of 2012, Hamilton has not ruled out leaving McLaren. He said he values the challenge of racing against a strong teammate and does not seek a team built around a clear number one driver, a reference to Fernando Alonso’s status at Ferrari. Hamilton’s future remains a key topic in the Formula One paddock, with Mercedes widely rumoured as a possible destination.
Triple world champion Jackie Stewart has warned Hamilton that a move to Mercedes carries risks, noting that the German manufacturer’s board could quickly decide to withdraw from Formula One. McLaren, meanwhile, continues to emphasise the strength of its current line-up, but the public disagreement over learning from teammates hints at a partnership under pressure.
