We’ve got a good and long-standing commitment to Mercedes-Benz, that’s what we’re focused on right now.
I think “right now” are the key words in all of Whitmarsh’s statements about the relationship between McLaren and Mercedes. “Right now” Honda is yet to confirm whether they are coming back in 2014, 2015 or at all. There might still be discussions with Honda and deals taking shape but it’s all in a preliminary phase and no one in McLaren’s management will be stupid enough to say something along the lines of “we’re taking to Honda, Merc can take their engines and shove them in Hamilton’s rear…side of the car”.
What if Honda actually reassesses its position and decides coming back to F1 is not such a safe bid afterall? What if they can’t actually put the engine together that easily as we all think they could? And what about this year, when both McLaren and Merc are potential title contenders? They won’t risk throwing bricks at their relationship with the current engine supplier over something that isn’t yet set in stone.
As for the so called “contract”, Razia also had a contract with Marussia, didn’t he? And look at what @journeyer said above. These situations are all proof that a piece of paper is never worth that much in F1.