Nowhere to hide for McLaren boss
McLaren boss served himself up for another thorough media grilling on Sunday morning in .
He has had the weekend from hell after following the Australian Grand Prix, and team manager was subsequently suspended for his part in the deception.
The team bravely went ahead with their regular Meet The Team session with Whitmarsh and Mercedes Motorsport boss .
Whitmarsh and Haug sat behind a desk at the front of the McLaren hospitality tent with folded arms.
The pair did not duck a single question and Whitmarsh, in particular, was more apologetic than he had been all week in Malaysia.
The McLaren team principal, who only took over the reins from Ron Dennis on 1 March, was keen to say sorry for taking a holiday immediately after the opening Australia Grand Prix.
Whitmarsh flew out of Melbourne on Sunday night and did not arrive in Kuala Lumpur until Thursday morning.
The 50-year-old was pressed a number of times on whether he would tender his resignation but he insisted he would not be stepping down in the immediate future.
Whitmarsh's future with the team could become clearer when he returns to the UK for a McLaren Group meeting in the next few days.
Haug will also face his employers at Mercedes-Benz this week. The German car company holds a 40% stake in the McLaren team and as the global economic downturn continues to hit car manufacturers, Haug must justify the heavy investment in Formula 1.
Haug only answered a handful of questions in Malaysia but the combative exchange between Whitmarsh and the media lasted for more than 50 minutes.
Whitmarsh will no doubt be glad to leave Malaysia and escape the spotlight.
There is nowhere to hide on the F1 circuit. Every time he arrives at the track, goes to the pit lane, and even the bathroom, the media pack is right there waiting - that won't happen in Britain.
As for Hamilton, well, he is a master of the wet on the track and it looks like the world champion has the rain on his side in Malaysia.
The 24-year-old walked through the turnstiles - and passed The Mole - just as the downpours began.
With the snappers and cameramen fleeing for shelter, Hamilton, once again, escaped running the gauntlet on his way to garage.
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