McLaren boss Whitmarsh praises drivers' attitude amid car troubles

Jenson Button and Sergio Perez face a troubled start to the campaign with the new MP4-28 well off the pace.

Although the team's form is well adrift of what it had hoped and expected for this year, Whitmarsh says that his two drivers have impressed him in the way they are dealing with its plight.

"After a weekend like this, you look for positives, and one of the positives is how great the drivers have been," explained Whitmarsh.

"Their attitude and approach through a difficult weekend has been very, very good.

"Jenson, we know and love and we expect that from him. He is that sort of professional.

"For a young driver like Checo to arrive into this situation, to cope with it and perform in such difficult circumstances in such a positive way, is encouraging.

"They are working with the team. They are team players and we will do it together."

Whitmarsh said that even his own mood had been lifted by the way that Button and Perez were dealing with things.

"They have both been exemplary," he said. "You get raised by them. You want to fight for them.

"They deserve it, and it makes you even more determined to deliver for them. They did a great job this weekend in circumstances that were not good for them."

HOPING FOR A LOTTERY

Button admitted ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix that he is pinning his hopes for the upcoming weekend on the weather causing mayhem, as he is aware that things will not improve if the race takes place in the dry.

"I don't think we can expect an improvement in our fortunes, but the thing about Malaysia is that it can be so unpredictable - particularly with the later start time on Sunday afternoon, which tends to see late-afternoon showers fall," said the Briton.

"We know that the unpredictable weather can make it a lottery for everyone.

"That's something that could play into our hands - I do enjoy driving in changeable conditions, and would love the challenge of being able to run competitively in a car that we all know is not quite capable of challenging for victories yet."