Sam Michael under fire amid McLaren problems

Jun.25 (GMM) Sam Michael is in the spotlight as McLaren continues to struggle in the pits in 2012.Williams' former technical director had to leave Williams at the end of last year as the beleaguered team restructured, and so he switched to McLaren t...

Sam Michael is in the spotlight as McLaren continues to struggle in the pits in 2012.

Williams' former technical director had to leave Williams at the end of last year as the beleaguered team restructured, and so he switched to McLaren to be sporting director.

But his new tenure got off to a difficult start in 2012 amid recurring problems particularly during crucial pitstops -- one of Michael's responsibilities.

The latest problem struck in Valencia on Sunday, with a failed front jack arguably costing Lewis Hamilton a shot at victory.

"Can somebody please tell me how Sam Michael still has a job at McLaren?" asked race fan Wes Howes on Twitter.

Telegraph journalist Tom Cary agreed that Michael, 41, "is coming under sustained fire" for McLaren's problems this season.

Grandprixdiary noted on Twitter: "McLaren were brilliant and Williams were rubbish. Then Sam Michael changed teams."

Pitflaps added: "When I see Sam Michael at McLaren I conjure up a picture of Frank Williams stroking a white cat, chuckling to himself."

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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