Friday: McLaren F1 in Form at Monza
The Italian Grand Prix of Formula 1 could be an opportunity for a very good overall result for McLaren drivers, Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen, who enjoyed their first day in Lombardy.
Jenson Button (No. 22) – 2nd and 6th
For the 2009 World Champion, the race pace is not quite there: « Our pace over one lap seems pretty good, but we’re probably lacking race pace compared to some other teams. Nevertheless, it’s always hard to know where we stand on a Friday. »
On the Pirelli tire front, for the Briton, the heat could disrupt the strategic aspect: « In terms of tire wear, it will be a one or two-stop race, but the warmer climate that’s expected could facilitate blistering, making strategy more challenging for everyone. »
Kevin Magnussen (#20) – 5th and 8th
On the Danish side, on the contrary, satisfaction prevails regarding the race pace: I think the fuel stints this afternoon were very promising. Our straight-line speed and braking were good, so I think we should be able to be quite strong with this car. We should be able to achieve a good result in qualifying, but I have a better race pace than on a single lap.
« I think that the low aerodynamic downforce on this circuit with the heavy braking areas – domains in which our car is generally strong – mean that we should really be able to achieve a good result this weekend, » he believes.
