British Grand Prix 2012: McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh still driven by his mission to end team's title drought To many who witnessed it, particularly those unused to his verbosity and more familiar with the high managerial turnover in football, Whitmarsh looked like a dead man talking. When a wheel then fell off Button's car following a botched pit-stop in the race, and Hamilton ran out of fuel costing him a podium place, the inevitable questions were raised. "I am confident that I will stay in my job," Whitmarsh said, grim-faced. I answer to the board, not just Ron [Dennis, chairman of McLaren Group], and they seem happy with the job I'm doing - for now, anyway. One year on and Whitmarsh is still in a job, McLaren are right in the hunt for both championships, and the 54 year-old is able to laugh at the memories. "Silverstone last year was an interesting one but it was a different audience," he says, smiling. I think it bubbled over because I was foolishly frank - or rather, foolishly honest - and I was misunderstood. My monologue wasn't inspired by defeatism, or fear. It was inspired by a determination and an honest openness. There can be no doubting Whitmarsh's earnestness, or his commitment to McLaren. Whitmarsh joined the Woking team from British Aerospace as head of operations in 1989. Groomed by Dennis to take over as team principal, he did so right after Hamilton's epic title win in 2008. He is still waiting for that first championship as the main man. How desperate is he to get that monkey off his back? "I'll tell you the truth," he says. I'm CEO of the McLaren Group and deputy chairman of McLaren Automotive. Those are my formal roles. I don't have a business card which says "team principal." I always saw it as a bit of a symbolic thing and told people that when they asked. But then when we won the first race when I was team principal - Hungary 2009 with Lewis - I have to say it was a much more emotional affair. I learned that I had been talking rubbish. So I can say to you, honestly, that I don't feel I have a monkey on my back but when - and I stress when - we win the championship I might reflect differently. When will that be? McLaren's championship drought is no recent thing. Hamilton's title remains their only one in the past 13 years. Could this be the year? McLaren began it well enough, locking out the front row in Australia and Malaysia. But not only have their rivals hit back, numerous pit-lane calamities have seen McLaren fritter away a hatful of points. Whitmarsh responded to criticism of their latest gaffe in Valencia by backing his under-fire sporting director Sam Michael - "He's doing a good job. I think if we're not the best race team in the world this time next year the fingers can be pointed a bit more strongly" - and pointing out that their other three stops were some of the fastest in history. As one observer put it, that's like saying you have scored the most beautiful goal in the history of the Beautiful Game but let in five at the other end. It is encouraging that McLaren's pit stops are getting quicker but mistakes cost championships and McLaren have made enough this year. On top of which, Hamilton's contract is up at the end of the season and negotiations with his management, Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment, look set to be protracted. Whitmarsh claims to be unconcerned. "Lewis knows my feelings and I think he wants to stay," he says. At the same time I have to accept the fact that his management have to try to exploit their asset. As for the pressure to exploit McLaren's assets, Whitmarsh is similarly phlegmatic. Speculation last year linked Dennis with a return to the hot seat and Whitmarsh does not deny the 65-year-old retains a keen interest in his race team. "Ron and I have an interesting relationship," he says. It's not always a positive one. And if there's one person who wants to be team principal it's him. But there is no pressure from Ron whatsoever. No pressure from outside really. Ultimately the pressure is from inside me. I'm very aware of the fact that it's the 50th anniversary of the team next year and there have only ever been four team principals - Bruce, Teddy Mayer, Ron and myself. The other three won a combined eight constructors" and 12 drivers" titles on their watch. Whitmarsh is still waiting for that elusive first on his. No pressure.