Apr.5 (GMM) New McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has rejected calls for him to quit over the 'lie-gate' scandal.
It is well-known that suspended sporting director Dave Ryan and world champion Lewis Hamilton lied to FIA stewards in Australia, but Whitmarsh then arrived in Malaysia and falsely insisted that they did not.F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone believes "the bucks stops" with the Briton, and there is also indignation about how long-serving Ryan seems to have been made a sacrificial lamb."When you make a mistake of that nature, and mislead a lot of people, then it isn't surprising that people call for your resignation," Whitmarsh admitted to the Guardian at Sepang."Of course I've considered my position. But, overall, I think it's my job to pull this team through this difficult time, with the help of my colleagues," he said.Whitmarsh denies that he also knowingly lied when he defended his team members earlier in Malaysia, insisting instead that he simply failed to "perform the necessary due diligence" before speaking with the media."As a result I misled the media because I spoke without having done my homework. I apologise to the media for that -- and also to the fans and of course the stewards and the FIA and the FIA World Motor Sport Council," he said.
