Whitmarsh offered to resign

Whitmarsh, who took over the team boss role from Ron Dennis ahead of the start of the season, admitted he has faced a challenging period after the FIA revealed McLaren's sporting director and world champion Lewis Hamilton had lied to the stewards following the British driver's incident with Jarno Trulli in the Melbourne race.

Whitmarsh said on Thursday he had offered McLaren's shareholders his resignation, but it was turned down.

"At the moment, as has been pointed out, this team has gone through some interesting and challenging times. I did offer my resignation after the weekend, that was graciously declined," Whitmarsh told a news conference in China.

"I offered it to the shareholders, and that was declined. The reality is that in the future it will be the new chairman's decision, which is normal in any business.

"So if the view is that I am doing a reasonable job then hopefully I will keep it, and if I am not I won't. And that's how it should be."

McLaren has been summoned to appear before the World Motor Sports Council later this month, as the FIA continues with its investigation of the affair.

The governing has asked the BBC for copies of interviews Whitmarsh conducted with the broadcaster right after the Australian Grand Prix.

Whitmarsh said he was comfortable with the comments made then.

"I looked, because it was drawn to my attention over the last few days I didn't see anything extraordinary in those comments, but as I've said earlier we've got a World Motor Sport Council hearing ahead of us and that's the time when we will discuss all those issues," he added.