Button could help Hamilton's title bid: Whitmarsh

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AFP) –

McLaren Mercedes‘ British driver Jenson Button attends a press conference at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit ahead of the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix. Martin Whitmarsh has suggested that if Button does not perform well at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix he might be asked to support Lewis Hamilton in his race for world title glory.

Martin Whitmarsh has suggested that if Jenson Button does not perform well at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix he might be asked to support Lewis Hamilton in his race for world title glory.

Despite winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Button of McLaren had a difficult first half of the season with McLaren struggling to get to grips with Pirelli’s 2012 rubber.

Although Button finished second in Germany and sixth in Hungary before the summer break, the 32-year-old is still 78 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and 31 behind his McLaren team-mate and fourth-placed Hamilton.

While McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh insisted both drivers would be given the same treatment in the next few races, he accepted that it was perhaps a matter of time before the team concentrated their efforts on Hamilton’s world title pursuit.

“There may well come a point (when Button might have to support Hamilton),” said Whitmarsh, “but with nine races to go and 25 points per race things can change quite quickly.”

“We must be measured when we talk to the drivers about when they put their support behind another driver.”

Given Button’s improved performance at Hockenheim and at the Hungaroring before the five-week hiatus, Whitmarsh insisted the 2009 champion would be given every opportunity to win the next few races.

He said: “I think the good news is that we go into Spa and both our drivers will be trying to win. Jenson has had some strong showings before the break and he is a very intelligent driver.

“It would be quite a few races’ time before we would look at the situation.

“Jenson is a winner. He and Lewis have a great relationship but Jenson will try to beat Lewis this weekend.”