Hungarian GP: The Turning Point of the Season for McLaren?

A dose of bad luck prevented Lewis Hamilton from soaring to a very good result two weeks ago in Germany. He won’t make the same mistake twice, as McLaren seems to be at the turning point of this 2009 season. Indeed, everything suggests good performances even though the title fight will be between Red Bull and Brawn.

Hamilton can count on his teammate, the Finn Heikki Kovalainen, to support him this weekend as he is the defending champion. Their respective cars will be on equal footing with the same specifications on both sides. Hopefully, this will lead to the best results on the Hungaroring circuit.

Lewis Hamilton – Racing Driver

« The Hungaroring is one of the most demanding circuits for drivers because you’re stuck in your lap without any moment of respite. It’s a bit like a karting circuit. There are many bumps, and the only place to relax is the pit straight, which is quite short. The grip level is very low, which makes overtaking particularly difficult. But I am happy to be here since I won in 2007 and secured pole position last year. It’s a circuit that really rewards the consistency of a single-seater and driving precision. Push too hard, and you tend to lose rather than gain time. Given the potential we showed in Germany last weekend, I remain hopeful for a result that reflects our general improvement over the past few weeks. »

Heikki Kovalainen – Racing Driver:

I won in Hungary in 2008, so it’s really nice to return to Budapest. This race is determined during the qualifications. You need to be at the front and have a long first stint if you want to succeed in the race. The track is also very hard on the tires. You need to find a balance that will allow you to maintain them until the end of each stint. The softer ones will suffer more, especially towards the end of the race. You must be cautious. I hope to take advantage of the new package this weekend.

Martin Whitmarsh – Team Principal:

« Although Lewis [Hamilton] demonstrated during the tests and qualifications at the Nurburgring that our update package was a significant step forward in terms of performance, it is frustrating to see the outcome of his race. For Budapest, Lewis and Heikki [Kovalainen] will be equipped with the new package and we hope to join the front of the field. The Hungaroring is a circuit where we have had many successes in the past. For this weekend, I hope to provide concrete evidence that we are at a turning point in the season. »