Martin Whitmarsh believes F1 is going through its toughest years – Formula 1 news
McLaren’s team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, has stated that Formula 1 is going through its toughest era presently.
“The strength and depth of the grid in terms of drivers and teams in my view, casting back over 24 years personally, is stronger than it's ever been,” Whitmarsh said. “It's more difficult to go out there week after week winning and being dominant, and that's
good. It's been great that these last two or three years have been really good Formula 1 seasons.”
He added that the sport has become different now because of the well established and sufficiently funded F1 teams, the rules have remained stable for a few years in comparison to the time when Ferrari was much more dominant and that the tyres are very tricky
now. He told that the tyres were one of the major reasons there was so much unpredictability and inconsistency in the beginning of the 2012 F1 season which has made the competition among the teams very close.
McLaren’s 2012 F1 season remained full of ups and downs. The team won seven out of twenty races on the calendar. However, they could not reach the top due to their consistent reliability issues. Lewis Hamilton, who has remained with McLaren since his debut
in F1 and is transferring to Mercedes AMG in 2013, displayed competitive racing all season but was obstructed by the problems in his car on many occasions. He had to retire in many races including some of them where he was leading after starting from the pole.
The team also lost its chance at the second standing in the constructors’ championship because of the same reason and was replaced by Ferrari. Towards the end of the season, McLaren was showing the best qualifying pace but it was too late for a comeback.
Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button, who won three out of the seven races for McLaren including the Brazilian GP where Hamilton retired from lead, will be leading the team in 2013 with new teammate, Sergio Perez, who has moved from Sauber F1.
McLaren’s sporting director, Sam Michael, has expressed his confidence that McLaren will be better in 2013 continuing on the strong form of the car in the last two races of 2012.
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