Martin Whitmarsh: 'Lewis Hamilton will stay'

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is adamant that Lewis Hamilton will stay with the side despite his recent dip in form.

The former world champion finished a disappointing eighth place at the British Grand Prix on Sunday and is now 37 points behind top-of-the-table Fernando Alonso in the drivers' championship.

Asked if he thought McLaren's form would affect Hamilton's decision, Whitmarsh said: "No, I think he's smarter than that. He's got to want to stay in this team, which I believe he does.

"This hasn't been one of the highs of the season. Four weeks ago it was a different situation, in two weeks' time [at the next race] it can be different again.

"He knows that, I know that and we're disciplined and battle-hardened enough these days to know that and you've got to take stock, learn from these weekends. Sometimes you can learn more from these than the successful ones - and do a better job in two weeks' time."

Hamilton's McLaren teammate and fellow Brit Jenson Button finished 10th at Silverstone.