Martin Whitmarsh: 'Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton can still win championship'

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has refused to rule out either of his drivers in the Formula 1 championship after Jenson Button's determined second-place finish at the German Grand Prix.

The two drivers, in particular Button, are a long way off leader Fernando Alonso, but Whitmarsh believes that anything is possible with half the season left to race.

"Anyone who doubted Jenson's form, I think he has silenced a few critics, The Telegraph quotes Whitmarsh as saying. "The car had good pace, Jenson drove well and the team made a fantastic pit stop – 2.3 seconds – to get in front of Sebastian Vettel. It was encouraging.

"We're at the half-way point, we've a lot of racing ahead of us, and they can both do it."

Button is seventh in the championship - 86 points off Alonso.