McLaren vow to stay focused

The team endured a difficult weekend in Budapest after their drivers were involved in a controversial incident in qualifying that meant McLaren were not allowed to score any constructors' points in the race.

Despite that, McLaren are still on top in both championships ahead of next week's Turkish Grand Prix, where the Woking-based squad will be looking to score their seventh win of the season.

Lewis Hamilton leads the championship by seven points from teammate Fernando Alonso with six races to go.

"Each race weekend has its own challenges, we faced some fairly unique ones at the Hungarian Grand Prix and there has been much reportage in the press in the two weeks since," said Whitmarsh in a team preview.

"However none of this has affected the preparation and motivation of Fernando, Lewis and the team for this 12th round of the season.

"In Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart the work has been relentless as we seek to find the performance enhancements we know we have to achieve in order to continue our battle for both championships."

Mercedes motorsports boss Norbert Haug echoed Whitmarsh's comments, saying the team remain focussed despite their off-track problems.

"Everybody in the team is concentrated and focussed, because these six races in two months on three continents will be everything but a walk in the park," he said.

"However, I think we can say that the races since the season opener in Australia haven't been easy either."