Highlights

Hamilton win puts more strain on McLaren team mates

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-18 16:04

Lewis Hamilton's U.S. Grand Prix victory on Sunday will only fuel the tension between him and McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso.

The 22-year-old British rookie's back-to-back wins in Canada and the United States, and seven podium finishes from his first seven races, stretched his overall lead over the Spanish double world champion to 10 points.

Hamilton has become the man of the moment while Alonso has been pushed out of the limelight to the point where they arrived in Indianapolis amid talk of cracks appearing in their relationship as team mates.

"Do I expect more speculation about our guys and their relationship? Yes," said McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh after the team's third one-two of the season.

"The reality is both our guys are winners, they want to win.

"If Fernando got out of the car and said he was delighted Lewis beat him today, I would be very worried.

"It can be a distraction but at the moment it isn't. But when you have two competitive drivers they're always going to have a go at each other," he added.

"There's a lot a pressure on Fernando to have someone as young and as confident and seemingly invincible as Lewis is.

"Fernando is a phenomenal competitor and it's still a long season and he's still aiming to win the world championship."

The Spaniard conceded nothing to his British team mate afterwards, other than being surprised by his brilliant debut.

"It has been a surprise for me and a surprise for everybody to see him (Hamilton) doing so well and leading the championship at this point," said the 25-year-old. "But I have big confidence.

"We only did seven races, 10 to go. So I'm very happy with my 48 points and the championship will be decided at the end."