Jonathan Neale: Ferrari have taken leap forward in 2011 but McLaren ready for challenge – Formula 1
McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale has stated that although the Scuderia Ferrari team has taken a huge leap forward in the 2011 Formula 1 season but the McLaren duo, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, is ready for the challenge.
Neale added that Button and Hamilton did a good job in the 2011 Silverstone race for McLaren and both of their cars should have finished higher on the grid.
Neale stated, “Lewis and Jenson did a fantastic and aggressive job out there racing and, but for other factors, we should have had both cars around second and fourth and we might feel differently about the whole grand prix. Up until the last week we were
the only ones putting up a credible fight against Red Bull.”
A lot was expected of the McLaren team on their home track, Silverstone, but the team failed to do so despite having no reliability or speed issues. Button was forced to quit the race when he exited the pits realising that his front right tyre was loose.
Hamilton on the other hand was going well up until the team ordered him to give away chase for the podium against Red Bull’s Mark Webber because the Brit’s car was running low on fuel. As Hamilton started the race from tenth place, Neale stated that the
team decided to have him on a low fuel strategy through which he could challenge the top running drivers.
Unfortunately, fuel was too low for Hamilton and he had to give his third place away and finished fourth ahead of Felipe Massa of Ferrari.
Neale further added that although Ferrari’s aggression in the Silverstone Grand Prix was impressive, it was the McLaren team who challenged Red Bull Racing for the chequered flags in the first part of the season.
Neale added that the regulations change from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) about the Blown Diffuser had its worst impact on the McLaren team among the top three teams of the grid.
“The impact of the interpretation of engine rules at Silverstone cost us more than both Ferrari and Red Bull. That's a matter of fact, not opinion. We went backwards relative to both of them by 0.7-0.8 seconds,” commented Neale.
Although the McLarens drivers are fourth and fifth on the drivers’ championship table Neale thinks that mathematically it is still possible for one of the two British drivers to have a go at the championship.
However, Neale stated that even if McLaren fail to win the championship, the team will still try to win some races in the 2011 season and will make life tough for the Red Bull team until the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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