Saturday: McLaren in a Good Position Before the Grand Prix

After an idyllic weekend for McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in Singapore, it’s now time for Japan and its extremely renowned and famous circuit known for its technicality. During the last free practice session, the Briton, world champion in 2008, placed 16th. Heikki Kovalainen did better by comfortably settling in 8th position.

The Finn still had a few scares on the dangerous Suzuka circuit. The last mistake, made in Q3, caused some harm. Kovalainen qualified in 9th place, unable to fight for a better position due to going straight into the tire wall. Lewis Hamilton, discovering this track for the first time, managed an impressive 3rd fastest time behind Vettel and Trulli. The stakes are high for McLaren this weekend. The goal is to take 3rd place in the constructors’ championship right under Ferrari’s nose.

Lewis Hamilton – 16th and 3rd:

«We did not expect to be as competitive as we were this afternoon. Our car was difficult to handle, and we had to make some significant changes between sessions. It was impossible to extract the best from the car, especially during the first sector. I’ve said it before, but I really love this circuit. I feel honored and very moved to drive in the same place as the other great drivers of the past.

I would love to win here tomorrow, and I’ll do my best to make it happen: I’ll drive with my heart and although the Red Bull will be very difficult to beat, there’s a long straight before the first corner, and our KERS is working better than ever. Sebastian [Vettel] is still fighting for the driver’s title while I’m here to have a good time and score points for my team to improve our position in the constructors’ championship standings.

Heikki Kovalainen – 8th and 11th (9th time):

« I went a little too fast at turn 8 over the curb, and the car broke, I couldn’t get it back on the track. It was “game over.” Today, the 3 accidents prove that everyone is pushing the limit as much as possible. The car was good, the balance seemed correct, and we should be in good shape for tomorrow. I hope the damage to my car is not too bad, so the mechanics can repair it tonight. »

Martin Whitmarsh – Director

Lewis did an excellent job qualifying in 3rd position. As a result, with the KERS and the progress we made this weekend, he should be in a position to fight for the victory. We weren’t very happy with the car this morning, but Lewis and his engineers worked patiently to improve performance.

Heikki went off at turn 8 when he was giving his maximum in Q3, and lost his car. To be honest, Heikki has made very few mistakes this year, moreover he has a carefully crafted strategy and should be able to gain positions for tomorrow’s race.

In summary, after pocketing a dozen points in the world championship in Singapore last weekend, our intention is to make a strong mark here in Japan.