Button and Hamilton out for revenge in Monaco

With fifteen victories to its credit on the streets of Monaco, including six by Ayrton Senna alone, McLaren is the most successful team in the Principality, far ahead of Ferrari (8 victories) and Lotus (7 victories): “I am incredibly proud of McLaren’s records in Monte Carlo. We have won more Monaco Grand Prix than anyone else, and it is a race that everyone considers incredibly special and integral to the image of Formula One. It is a unique event in many ways: it imposes unique constraints on the driver, the car, and the team. Consequently, a victory in Monaco is considered more significant than on other circuits,” boasts Martin Whitmarsh.

For Jenson Button, winner in Monaco in 2009, winning the Monaco Grand Prix will always be very special: My victory in Monaco in 2009 remains one of my favorites in Formula One. Monte-Carlo is a place where every driver wants to win, and achieving it is so satisfying because you know you’ve conquered one of the most challenging circuits in motorsport. […] I would like to win for McLaren, a team that has a great history in Monaco, and I would like to add my name to the list of McLaren winners.

After an early retirement in 2010, Jenson Button had been one of the main contenders for victory in 2011, where a late red flag ruined his tire strategy. Jenson will be determined to set things straight after losing a victory that many people considered fully deserved in 2011, says Martin Whitmarsh. The 2009 world champion expects a fantastic weekend no matter what: I remember having a fantastic car last year and feeling really confident about fighting for the win. As sometimes happens, circumstances beyond my control prevented me from doing so, so I return to Monte Carlo with a sense of unfinished business. This year, we will use the super-soft tires for the first time, which could be interesting. Although our car is not specifically suited to the narrowness of a circuit like Monaco, I am optimistic about overcoming the balance issues that affected me in the last two races.

For his part, Lewis Hamilton had experienced a nightmarish Monaco Grand Prix that had inaugurated long months of doubts and wandering. The native of Stevenage nevertheless appreciates the Monaco circuit: « Monaco is a very special circuit. Along with Silverstone, it is at the top of the circuits where I most want to perform well. Even though Monaco has the lowest average speed of all the circuits we visit in a season, you always feel incredibly fast. That’s because the acceleration is so quick and the walls are so close: there really isn’t any room for error. Apart from the runoff at Sainte-Dévote, and the small escape areas at Mirabeau and the harbor chicane, there is no room for mistakes. But when the stakes are at their highest, I just find it more exciting. »

If Martin Whitmarsh believes that a victory on his favorite circuit would be the just reward for his speed and commitment […], simply because he has driven brilliantly all season, Lewis Hamilton wants to remain true to his approach and prioritizes consistency above all: It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that despite pushing for victory, being consistent and scoring good points is currently the best way to fight for the world championship. I have scored points in every race and I’m only eight points from the lead in the championship: it’s a very encouraging statistic and it’s reassuring to see that my approach is paying off. Nonetheless, I come off two relatively disappointing results, and there is no better place for the odds to turn in my favor than Monaco.

To do this, McLaren will need to resolve the chronic problems it has been encountering during pit stops over the last few races, which will be particularly penalizing on the Monaco circuit: « We are heading to the south of France determined to have a flawless weekend and to demonstrate our full potential. I have absolutely no doubt that the team feels very strong and that a victory in Monaco will be the perfect encouragement for their efforts. »