Webber decision concentrates Hamilton’s mind

Hamilton dropped a broad hint earlier this week he might finally resolve his future with the team during next month’s summer break following back-to-back races in Germany and Hungary.

Mark Webber’s decision to re-sign with Red Bull for 2013 appears to have brought the matter into perspective for Hamilton who, up until last week, had shown no great desire to resolve matters.

Although also linked with Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus, McLaren would appear to be Hamilton’s only sensible destination – but for how long?

It has been suggested Hamilton may look for a one-year deal in order to keep his options open for 2014, and to see if McLaren can provide him with the title-winning car he desires.

But asked whether McLaren could agree something more long-term, Whitmarsh replied: “I’m expecting we will. Lewis has been a member of this team for a long time, and we have been concentrating on a season.

“I think there’s been more speculation, more concern, more interest in this situation in the media than perhaps within the team or in Lewis’s mind.”

Whitmarsh has reiterated his belief McLaren’s drop in form – with Hamilton eighth and team-mate Jenson Button 10th in the British Grand Prix 10 days ago – would have no bearing on the 27-year-old’s decision.

Hamilton goes into the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the 100th of his Formula 1 career, trailing leader Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari by 37 points, with the Briton also behind Red Bull duo Webber and Sebastian Vettel in the standings.

The future of Germany’s other Formula 1 grand prix venue is uncertain as the Nurburgring faces possible insolvency.

The news was confirmed at a press conference in Mainz by Kurt Beck, state governor for the Rhineland-Palatinate area.

Nurburgring GmbH, which operates the 90 per cent state-owned circuit situated 35 miles west of Koblenz, owes the Rhineland-Palatinate bank around £235m for redevelopment in 2009.

Despite applying to the European Union’s Executive Commission for an emergency loan of £10m to cover interest repayments, that is not expected to be granted.

In turn, that has forced the state to act, with Beck remarking there was now a “high probability of insolvency at the end of the month due to a lack of liquidity”.