Whitmarsh: A lot of people doubted our strategy

Martin Whitmarsh

Martin Whitmarsh was naturally over the moon with McLaren's second consecutive 1-2 result in Canada, as Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button shoot to the top of the Drivers' Championship as well as extended the team's stranglehold for constructors' honors.

With Red Bull and Robert Kubica's Renault setting off on the harder, Medium compound tires, the likes of McLaren began with the softer, Super Soft type. However, fears over McLaren's tactics were highlighted when Whitmarsh commented on Saturday that a Safety Car would be a huge help.

As it happened, no Safety Car was deployed in Montreal although both McLaren drivers topped the podium, having been assisted by problems for Fernando Alonso.

"Well I think for everyone in the garage it was fantastic," Team Principal Whitmarsh told the BBC after the race. "The drivers just did a fantastic job.

"I think a lot of people doubted the strategy at the beginning but the drivers had to look after the pace as well.

"I think the Prime (harder) tire was problematic, as well. We were a little bit fortunate – we were able to put the drivers into the traffic and we did that – but I think they drove brilliantly.

"It was fantastic to see Jenson overtaking Fernando like that, great for the team."