2010 EUROPEAN Grand Prix preview

 Jenson Button

“As a team, we’ve taken maximum points in the last two races and it feels like we’ve really gathered considerable momentum. The team really is functioning as a single unit, so I think we head into Valencia next weekend hopeful of being able to once again capitalise on that determination and ambition.

“Even though it’s a street circuit, it’s got quite a different feel to other street tracks like Monte-Carlo or Singapore. For a start, it’s quite a bit faster – there are some low-speed corners with some fairly unforgiving walls at the apex, but there are also some high-speed changes of direction and some long straights, so it’s quite an interesting place set-up-wise. It’s not as if you completely rely on downforce, there’s a trade-off, and that should suit our package.

“Valencia is also the final race before two important stop-offs in the UK: our home race at Silverstone and, before that, the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Both are events where the British fans will be out in force. And, as world champion, I’m looking forward to both events. Silverstone will be an incredible experience, and I get to achieve a childhood dream of driving one of Alain Prost’s classic McLarens, the MP4/2C, at Goodwood. Sometimes, I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

Lewis Hamilton

“I’m really looking forward to racing in Valencia. I had a great, attacking race there last year – but I’ve finished second for the past two seasons, so I feel like I have some unfinished business!

“I also think it’s good for the championship to have a variety of circuits – we’ve just come from a fast, flowing road course in Canada, to a tight street track in Valencia. And, next month, we’ll be at Silverstone – one of the fastest tracks of the year, and a circuit with incredible history. As a driver, that sort of variety makes the racing exciting and unpredictable, which is all you can really ask for.”

“The last few grands prix have had some fantastic racing – it would be great for all the Spanish fans if we can have a great race here too. It’s not a circuit where we’ve seen too much passing in the past, but I think this year could be different – the grid is so tight, there were battles all through the field in Montreal last week, so I think we could have a close and exciting race this year.”

Martin Whitmarsh

Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“After two consecutive one-twos, it certainly felt like Bruce McLaren himself was looking down on us and smiling, particularly after we recently commemorated the 40^th anniversary of his death.

“I’m sure Bruce would also have appreciated the relentless and dedicated approach we have taken to the engineering and development of MP4-25 – I think we’ve shown in the past two races that we lack nothing in terms of hunger and motivation. And with our car being constantly developed, I believe we can continue to be a threat at the majority of remaining races on the calendar.

“Of course, we’re no strangers to relentless development – it’s one of the team’s greatest strengths – and we’re absolutely committed to maximising every last component in the search for performance. Nothing is too small to be overlooked, and it’s that holistic approach that really brings rewards, allowing us to eke out performance in every single area of the car.

“It’s also an approach we’re increasingly focusing on with the team, too: we’re looking at pitstops, engineering, strategy – and we’re seeing practical and material benefits in those areas, too.”

A summary of the results from McLaren @ the Canadian GP.

LEWIS HAMILTON
MP4-25A-04
Started:      1st
Finished:     1st
Fastest lap:  1m17.806s (2nd)
Pitstops:     Two: on laps 7 and 26 (Opt-Pri-Pri)
2010 points:  109 (1st)

“It was an incredibly challenging afternoon, especially in the last 20 laps, when I was trying to look after my tyres while also keeping Jenson and Fernando [Alonso] behind me. It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that!

“This track is unique – you can never be too confident, because you really have to look after your tyres, and it’s so hard to know how long you can make them last. Fernando put a lot of pressure on me. We had a really good battle, but, although he was pressing me hard, I was able to pull out a small gap and then maintain it. It was such a sensational feeling to cross the line.

“In terms of pure pace, I still think the Red Bull car is still a little bit faster than ours. But, as a whole, I think our package is now stronger. So, going forward, we need to build on the progress we’ve made recently, and we’re going to do just that; we’ll now knuckle down and make a really big effort to increase that gap. We’ve got good momentum now, so I hope we can continue our winning run through to Valencia in two weeks’ time.

“The feeling and atmosphere within the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is better than ever. The contribution that Jenson has brought is the best I’ve ever witnessed from a team-mate. He did another great job today to come from fourth to second – he’s doing his part and I’m doing mine. The team is happier than ever.

“This has been a truly fantastic day.”

JENSON BUTTON
MP4-25A-03
Started:       4th
Finished:      2nd
Fastest lap:   1m18.144s (3rd)
Pitstops:      Two: on laps 6 and 27 (Opt-Pri-Pri)
2010 points:   106 (2nd)

“Turn One was a bit too exciting for me – I got hit by Felipe [Massa], and I feared I’d damaged the car, but fortunately it was just rear graining that I felt, not a puncture. Then, when I got onto the Prime tyre, the car started working really well.

“But it’s so difficult around here – you’ve really got to look after the tyres, even the Prime, which was also liable to graining. But I looked after my tyres carefully, and in traffic I was able to pull out five seconds on Sebastian [Vettel]. After that, I decided to focus on driving flat-out to catch Fernando. And it worked: when we both hit further traffic, I was able to pounce and make my move.

“After that, I began trying my best to reel in Lewis, but I’d taken so much out of my tyres while chasing Fernando that I couldn’t get any closer to Lewis than about two seconds.

“Overall, then, this has been a great weekend for us. Lewis did a phenomenal job in qualifying – I couldn’t touch him – but it feels good to have finished second in the race just behind him. Hopefully, next time the order will be reversed!”

MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“I’m told I sometimes over-use the phrase ‘fantastic job’ when describing the performances of Lewis and Jenson, but I make no apology whatsoever for using that phrase again today.

“This afternoon’s race was extremely exciting from a spectacle point of view and decidedly challenging from a strategy point of view, and I think our engineers rose to that challenge supremely well.

“But, yes, Lewis and Jenson did indeed do a fantastic job here in Montreal this afternoon. They drove with controlled aggression when it was needed, tempered by patience and discipline when those qualities were required.

“I firmly believe that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has the two best racing drivers in the world today.

“Now, we leave North America and head back to Europe, in first place in the constructors’ world championship, and in first place and second place in the drivers’ world championship.

“We never under-estimate our competitors, who are working every bit as hard to win grands prix and world championships as we are. There’s a long way to go yet, but I can say without fear of contradiction that every single person at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is working as hard as he or she possibly can to maintain our positions at the top of both championship tables from here on in through to Abu Dhabi in November.”

Canadian GP Results table

1
Lewis Hamilton
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

2
Jenson Button
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

3
Fernando Alonso
Ferrari

4
Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull

5
Mark Webber
Red Bull

6
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes

7
Robert Kubica
Renault

8
Sebastien Buemi
Toro Rosso

9
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Force India

10
Adrian Sutil
Force India

11
Michael Schumacher
Mercedes

12
Jaime Alguersuari
Toro Rosso

13
Nico Hülkenberg
Williams

14
Rubens Barrichello
Williams

15
Felipe Massa
Ferrari

16
Heikki Kovalainen
Lotus

17
Vitaly Petrov
Renault

18
Karun Chandhok
HRT

19
Lucas di Grassi
Virgin