Whitmarsh: 'Mercedes offered Hamilton more money'

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes that Mercedes offered Lewis Hamilton a more lucrative contract to persuade him to join them.

Hamilton will end his 14-year association with McLaren by leaving to drive for Mercedes in the 2013 season.

Whitmarsh has revealed that the former world champion turned down an improved financial deal with McLaren, which suggests that even more money was on the table from their Formula 1 rivals.

"We made Lewis an offer - an offer, which I believe is more money than any other driver at the moment is being paid," Whitmarsh told the official Formula 1 website.

"That leads us to suspect that our competitor and our partner . . .