Assessment: McLaren could have done much better!

The McLaren team will have some regrets tonight as their race could have been exceptional. Nevertheless, they know that returning to form is close. It is Heikki Kovalainen who is pushing the team forward today as he finishes just in the points with 8th position.

His teammate was much less fortunate. Lewis Hamilton had a fantastic start and could have even led the race, but a puncture during the minor collisions at the start decided otherwise. One thing is certain, the new updates are proving effective, as is the KERS, which allowed both drivers to make a superb getaway.

Heikki Kovalainen – 8th:

If you had told me on Friday that I would score points today, I wouldn’t have believed it. This weekend has been tough, tough with the tires to find grip, but we worked throughout the sessions. The qualifying went well, and our KERS helped me move from sixth to third position at the start. From that point, I had to defend my position. I pushed all the time and it wasn’t easy to gain places, but we can be satisfied. The KERS helped me today, there’s no doubt about it, and I’m really looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix where I will have all the upgrades. It’s good for the whole team to see that we are making progress.

Lewis Hamilton – 18th:

« My race ended at turn 1. I had a very good start but the braking went poorly and I went straight. I think the tire that eventually punctured damaged the underside of the car. I suggested to the team to change the engine and gearbox for the future. But that’s racing and we have to move forward. The best thing to remember about this weekend is that our updates are successful. The team has done a fantastic job over the past few weeks and I’m already looking forward to the next race. »

Martin Whitmarsh – Team Principal:

« Lewis [Hamilton] and Heikki [Kovalainen] both had a great start, assisted by an effective KERS. In fact, Lewis could have taken the lead of the race at the first corner if he hadn’t been hit by Mark [Webber], which resulted in the collision and the puncture. It’s frustrating because his car was competitive and I’m sure he would have been able to achieve an excellent result. Even more frustrating, he had to let everyone pass as he was a lap behind. He lost a lot of time. »

« Heikki showed great things throughout the weekend with consistent performance despite not having all the upgrades like Lewis. He ended up with an eighth place in the standings and a good point in the championships. Today, we’re already looking forward to heading to Budapest, where both our drivers will have the updates. »