Martin Whitmarsh believes that the world title is still a possibility for McLaren despite Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel’s surge to the top of the rankings.

McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who won their last two races before the team went into summer break, have eight more chances to close the gap on Vettel.

Despite the odds being against them, Whitmarsh is refusing to give up hope.

"I think it's tough, but it's possible," Whitmarsh told Autosport. "And winning races is tough, but I think all you can do is try to win every race, and you can't do more than that. It is difficult to pull back the gap, but it's possible.

"Of course people focus on the championship, but I think if you are not leading the championship then you can't worry too much about it. We never give up. We've never been a quitter and this time isn't one.”

Currently Sebastian Vettel sits 88 points ahead of Hamilton, while Button resides 12 points lower than his teammate.