Besieged by rumour and innuendo, Lewis Hamilton did his talking on the track again on Saturday when he grabbed pole position for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix with a scorching display of talent and commitment.
After another week of controversy and speculation about his future, he made clear he is still dedicated to doing his best for McLaren as he led team-mate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button to their third one-two front row lockout of the season.
All talk of a switch to Mercedes as a successor to Germany’s seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, 43, appeared to be not only premature, but unnecessary on the evidence of Hamilton’s display.
“I don’t want to talk about winning the race here for the first time or my future,” said Hamilton. “Let’s talk about the things that have happened first and the others when something else happens.”
His matter-of-fact approach to his post-session media briefings was a succinct example of his likely approach to the future: he wants to win and be successful.
Like Hamilton, McLaren were also keen to avoid more loose talk about their negotiations following former team owner Eddie Jordan’s claims that a deal with Mercedes has been agreed for 2013.
McLaren chief Martin Whitmarsh said: “I haven’t spoken to him about a deal this week and I don’t want to speak with him about it here, in Monza, as I want him to be on form.
“I want us to finish one-two on Sunday – if I can – so I don’t think that we need to talk about the future – about contracts – right now.
“It is too important for Lewis, too, because he needs a very strong result here for his own championship challenge and we want a strong result for both our championships.”
Their performances in qualifying endorsed their jointly-held view that the annual Monza frenzy over drivers’ deals was not in any way affecting them.
“Morale in the team is good, we just want to race,” said Button. “I think I’ve shown that whatever is going on off the circuit, you have to focus on the job in hand. And it is great to have a hugely competitive team-mate – it really helps you know how you are doing and where you are.”
