McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Lewis Hamilton has had regrets over his decision to join Mercedes next year, with the latter opting to depart after six seasons on-board. The 27-year-old made his choice soon after retiring from the lead in Singapore, something Whitmarsh reckons was an error.
"I think he has on occasions, yes," Whitmarsh said during an interview with the official Formula 1 website. "Probably, when you make a decision you have to tell yourself that the decision is made so you have to look forward. You say okay, that it is in the past so you don’t spend too much time thinking about why.
"You just look forward and make the best out of the new situation. Right now we still want to win races. We are motivated by that and our conversation circles around that. Maybe he is completely dispassionate about it, but my guess is that we both will have very emotional moments in Brazil."
Whitmarsh went on to talk more specifically about the moment Hamilton informed him of his decision, admitting that he was taken by surprise but not overly stunned.
"I was surprised, but I was not shocked," Whitmarsh added, having heard the news via telephone. "He told me right after Singapore and I am pretty sure he hadn’t made up his mind until after Singapore - the Monday or Tuesday after Singapore. I think it is always bad to make a decision in the aftermath of a bad race.
"He was pretty sure that he was going to win that race and it was a disappointment and as I just said it is never good to make a decision in such a situation. I respect his decision, but I believe that he would be better off with us - we are the stronger team - and we intend to beat him next year!"
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