Whitmarsh backs Button’s desire to push on

Martin Whitmarsh on Friday vowed to support Jenson Button as the reigning world champion pushes for a second consecutive drivers’ world title.

With Lewis Hamilton a lot better placed in the points standings, McLaren boss Whitmarsh earlier said the British team would discuss deploying a strategy for the remaining two races of 2010.

But Button insisted he wants to push ahead while he is "mathematically" still able to win, including next weekend in Brazil.

"Lewis is well placed in the drivers’ championship," Whitmarsh said in an official preview on Friday.

"While Jenson lies 42 points adrift, he has vowed to fight on. As the reigning world champion, and a great driver, he knows better than most that you can’t lift the title without being a resolute fighter," he added.

"That’s exactly why we hired him, and we’ll be supporting him fully this weekend."