Lewis Hamilton has had regrets over leaving - McLaren boss
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton has already had regrets about his move to Mercedes.
Whitmarsh said he did "not fully understand" the reasons behind Hamilton's decision to join a less competitive team.
"I think he has on occasions [regretted it]," Whitmarsh said.
He said he felt Hamilton's decision was motivated by a desire to "flee the nest" and that he suspected Mercedes offered him more money.
The remarks came in a wide-ranging interview with the official Formula 1 website.
Whitmarsh said he believed wanting to move on from a team Hamilton has been part of since he was 13 was his "prime" motive for leaving McLaren.
"If I were speculating there are a number of factors, and the prime one, I think, is that there comes a time when a man feels he has to flee the nest," Whitmarsh said. "I think it was a bit of that and a range of different emotions. He has been with us for so many years that I do not fully understand it."
He also said he suspected Mercedes had offered Hamilton a bigger salary.
"We made Lewis an offer - an offer, which I believe is more money than any other driver at the moment is being paid," Whitmarsh said.
"That leads us to suspect that our competitor and our partner Mercedes-Benz offered a bit more money. I don't know that, but I think for Lewis made his decision."
Asked about Hamilton's remarks that he is looking forward to the opportunity of building Mercedes into a team that wins regularly, Whitmarsh said: "You have to justify your decision. He is not going to say: 'Hey, they offered me more money.' He is also not going to say that he's made an awful mistake. I hope he thinks today that he's made an awful mistake and I hope he thinks that next year.
"He's made that decision and he has to live with that decision. I have known him since he was 11 and worked with him since his teens and I know we will both be very emotional after Brazil. We have had one or two emotional moments since the decision was taken and I believe, but you must ask him, that we have a very good relationship."
Whitmarsh said he suspected Hamilton and McLaren would both have "very emotional moments" at the final race of the season in Brazil later this month.
BBC Sport understands that Mercedes did indeed offer Hamilton more money than McLaren.
Hamilton is believed to have earned about $24m (£15m) including bonuses this year with McLaren.
Sources say McLaren initially offered Hamilton about $20m (£12.5m) plus bonuses for 2013 and upped that to $22m (£13.8m) plus bonuses when they realised Mercedes was a serious possibility for him.
Mercedes initially offered about $28m (£17.5m) plus bonuses, upping it to about $31m (£19.4m) plus bonuses after McLaren raised their offer.
Mercedes have not scored a point in the four races since Hamilton's move was announced.
But at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend Hamilton said he had no regrets about the switch.
"I already knew how big [a task] it was," he said. "I really thought about it hard, and I could see how big it was. Perhaps it's growing as a task, but I'm excited about it, to meet the new people and to be in a new environment and mould myself into it.
"It doesn't worry me. I'm really excited to go there. I feel fantastic about the decision - I'm massively excited about working with new people. It is a fantastic team. I know they have lost their way a little bit at the moment, but I'm going to go and help them find their way."
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End this obsession with him now!!!
Hamilton is obviously getting more money and raising his worldwide profile by moving to Mercedes but he has also stated he wants a fresh challenge.
The reality is Mclaren have not backed him up this year so they cannot really complain that he is leaving.
Genuinely fast driver.....
but thank god the BBC have fabricated another story from nothing so we can have a Jenson vs Lewis debate. it's what this site has been lacking for at least a few days.
Or to be more specific,
Hamilton
Whats his obsession with Hamilton, its just continuous drivel, not backed up by many quotes. Its laughable really, he should be at the DAILY STAR
UTTER GARBAGE
The fact that awful strategy over the last year has cost him any chance of a title and that he seems to have been increasingly marginalised under Whitmarsh, I am not surprised he is leaving.
But of course Whitmarsh will say Hamilton will regret it. He's hardly going to come out and say "h'es made the right move, Mclaren aren't very good at the moment and I doubt we will be next year, I expect we will keep throwing victories away so it's good he's moving team".
In qualifying Jenson was again beaten comprehensively by Lewis and Perez was underwhelming. Unless their drivers improve on Saturday does MW really think McLaren can challenge next when both drivers are playing catchup on Sunday starting down the grid!
Do you guys actually follow F1? Jenson beat Lewis in the championship last year. He is only 12 points behind him this year and he is catching up fast. They have both won twice with 4 retirements and 1 WDC. Facts!
You don't get points for qualifying! - Looking at the numbers, I would say there is little to choose between Jenson and Lewis.
Every Hamilton hating article from Benson has a specifically selected negative picture of Hamilton looking down-cast.
Hamiltons quali score compared to Jenson is classed as top secret and never ever quoted under any circumstances by Benson.
Jenson despite numerous poor performances has ZERO articles about him with comments.