McLaren praises 'sensible' drivers

After a Turkish Grand Prix where Red Bull Racing threw away a 1-2 finish when Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel collided, McLaren duo Hamilton and Button raced closely themselves for the lead before cruising home, even though they made contact when fighting for first place.

And McLaren's chief engineer Tim Goss says the events of the afternoon show how strong McLaren is, and how well Hamilton and Button get on.

"Both our drivers are very, very sensible," said Goss. "They both handled themselves particularly well on the circuit and with the media.

"We employ them to be aggressive racing drivers. They like to fight; they are both world champions and out to prove they're the best. But the way they have handled themselves on the circuit has been absolutely exceptional so far this year.

"There has been more than one occasion when they have been close to one another like that, and the two of them can race and avoid each other - unlike our next-door neighbours [Red Bull Racing] who clearly threw an easy one-two away."

Although Red Bull Racing has enjoyed a car advantage so far this season, it has not been able to stamp its authority on the world championship standings.

Goss believes the situation shows that success in F1 is not just about a good chassis design - it is about how a team works and how its drivers get on.

"You've got to have a quick car and you have to get it to the finish," he said. "In this race Red Bull Racing did not deliver, and they've not delivered because their two drivers are racing. Our two drivers were racing, but I think that just shows how well our two drivers can manage themselves on the circuit."

When asked for his opinion on the Red Bull Racing accident, Goss said: "I've only read that neither driver says they are to blame. There is some good footage of the incident, and you just have to look at it and make your own mind up. But I think Vettel had enough room on the track."