Saturday: McLaren has a perfect start to the weekend!

For nearly a year, McLaren-Mercedes had been dreaming of this, and finally, the team is back on pole position. Indeed, for more than 9 months, the team hadn’t reached the top spot on the starting grid. This has now been achieved this season thanks to the Hamilton/Kovalainen duo, who secured this afternoon the front row of the 2009 European Grand Prix qualifying: a satisfying result.

Hamilton today signs the 14th pole of his career and barely holds it over a very performing Heikki Kovalainen today, under the pressure to keep his seat with the McLaren team next year.

With a front row entirely in silver, tomorrow’s Grand Prix start will be easier to approach, even though Kovalainen has no plans to become Lewis Hamilton’s watchdog.

Lewis Hamilton – 8th and 1st:

« After winning in Hungary, we arrived here not knowing if the other teams had closed the gap, but clearly, we are still competitive. We haven’t experienced such a level of performance for a long time: last year I was able to only do one stint to qualify well. This season, every second of the qualifying session counts. »

« I accomplished several very fast laps today and we managed to have very competitive positions for tomorrow’s race start. It will of course depend on the strategy and the start of the race. Congratulations to Heikki [Kovalainen] for his superb work. We were very close all weekend, it was exciting! We have the front row and we’ve wanted it for a very long time. »

Heikki Kovalainen – 4th and 2nd:

« I am very happy to start the race tomorrow from the front row, but I made a few mistakes at the end of my last fast lap and could have been faster… I knew that qualifying would be tight and that the car would be competitive, so I prepared myself as best as possible. In the end, I pushed a little too hard at the end of the session, and it cost me a position – and even if that hadn’t been the case, we would have had the front row anyway… The guys at the Woking factory have worked very well since the end of the holidays, and I thank them! »

Martin Whitmarsh – Director:

« A truly brilliant result for the whole team – well done everyone! Both Lewis [Hamilton] and Heikki [Kovalainen] appeared relaxed in the car, comfortable and performing well! And yet, the task was not simple: it was hot and humid, and the track is very demanding! Our two drivers fought for pole today, and I’m sure they will show great things tomorrow in the race. »