McLaren to let drivers duel

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has admitted he ignored pressure from his team to halt Formula One's latest team-mate bust-up.

Following Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, Jenson Button labelled fellow McLaren driver Sergio Perez "dangerous" and suggested the Mexican needed to calm down.

Button twice went on to the team radio to voice his anger but Whitmarsh stood by his guns.

"I had a lot of noise in my ear, people saying 'stop this, it's hurting us'," said Whitmarsh. "I didn't, but on balance, it was the right thing for both drivers."