Australian GP – McLaren doesn’t expect to shine

McLaren-Mercedes could be the big surprise at the start of the 2009 season. Not for its advanced competitiveness but rather for its underperformances.

The preseason tests confirm it. The Woking team is not up to par at the moment, and the entire staff warns that the team is not heading to the other side of the world with the intention of winning. To address this, they will need to fix their rear wing issue or manage their KERS used from the end of this week.

Lewis Hamilton – Racing Driver

« There is no better place to start the F1 World Championship than Australia. The weather is fantastic, the facilities are excellent, and the people of Melbourne welcome us perfectly. But above all, everyone arrives full of enthusiasm and hope. »

« It is always difficult to know who is in the best shape for this first weekend at Albert Park. Maybe McLaren-Mercedes is not coming to Melbourne with the same prospects as in 2007 and 2008, but the whole team will work tirelessly to help us get back to the front. »

Heikki Kovalainen – Racing Driver:

« I had a great race in Melbourne last year for my debut with McLaren. It’s a track that I love, a circuit where you can attack with a lot of enthusiasm. The corners here are among the most demanding you can find. »

« I appreciate this feeling of returning for a new season, of coming together and sharing our winter stories. Our entire team is very motivated to win from the start of the season. »

Martin Whitmarsh – Team Principal Vodafone McLaren Mercedes:

In this early part of the 2009 season, we are fully aware that we do not yet have the technical package that will allow our drivers to fight at the front. But that’s what makes our sport so demanding and so fascinating.

« And like any team, we are heading to Melbourne with realistic expectations. Nonetheless, we are starting our season with the desire to reaffirm our strength. But most importantly, we have not forgotten how to win. »