Assessment: Hamilton and McLaren Beat the Competition

On an urban circuit like Singapore, achieving pole position is defined as a step towards victory. McLaren and Hamilton demonstrate in the best possible way that the saying is entirely true. With pole position, and by overcoming the traps of the Singapore circuit, Lewis Hamilton delivered the perfect race. A race punctuated by a victory and 10 points. On the Finnish side, Kovalainen’s race was more eventful in the midfield, with more duels present. Starting 8th on the grid, following the demotion of Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld, Kovalainen finished in the points, in 7th place behind the Brawn GP drivers.

12 points are added for McLaren-Mercedes, which signals an upcoming battle between Ferrari and McLaren for 3rd place in the overall standings. The McLarens prove they are just as comfortable on high-speed tracks as on urban circuits, and they hope to replicate today’s performance at the next Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan.

Lewis Hamilton – 1st:

« It’s a perfect end to a fantastic weekend. The race was physically very tough for all the drivers, but it was actually quite easy for me. I got a good start, and I knew my first stint would be longer than the driver directly in front of me. So I was able to close the gap behind me. It was a very well-controlled race. We had a small issue with the KERS, but we just had to switch it off and on again. I really wanted to redeem myself after the last lap at Monza, and we did it! »

Heikki Kovalainen – 7th:

I didn’t have any problems, and from start to finish, I felt very comfortable, but I couldn’t drive any faster. I am now focusing on having a better car and ultimately better results. We showed that the car is performing well, especially with Lewis’s victory, but to be honest, my weekend was ruined yesterday in qualifying, which really disappointed me.

Martin Whitmarsh – Team Principal:

« After a somewhat unsettled Friday, the team worked fantastically all through Friday night and Saturday morning to reshape Lewis’s car – and the result is a brilliant pole position. I would describe this victory as a great win – not only for Lewis but also for the team. In fact, I am just as proud of the team as I am of Lewis himself. As for Heikki, he was unlucky in qualifying, but in difficult circumstances, he brought back valuable points for the championship. »