McLaren Drivers want Home Victory
It’s that time again for the British Grand Prix. The race will take place this weekend at a revamped Silverstone track. Though Red Bull is very strong, local fans want to see the two McLaren Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button battle it out for a home victory.
“I don’t feel under pressure going into my home race - I feel very relaxed, and Lewis is the same,” Button said in an interview about the coming race. However, he needs to work on his qualifying form before the race.
Button had some disappointing showings last Saturday afternoon. He knows his qualifying performance needs to pick up after a slow Montreal Grand Prix qualifier. At his last race in Valencia he admitted he “made a mistake in the last corner.”
Hamilton has won at home before, and therefore has a slight advantage. After finishing 16th last year, he is determined to do better and prove he can win again at home.
Hamilton admires Button's determination to win, but doesn’t believe it overshadows his own. In the end, “we’ll race fairly, and the fastest guy will win, hopefully a one-two, which would be real special.”
Hamilton, 31, is McLaren’s number one driver, and was born in Frome, Somerset. Button, 25, drives the number two car and was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The two Brits drove McLaren to victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal this June. The drivers are hopeful the MP4-21’s famous F-duct, and the cars' recent upgrades, will help them get to the finish line before the rest.
Button is looking forward to being back home in front of local fans. The inspiration they inspire is unlike anything he has experienced and the young racer is eager for his first win at home:
“It’ll be a lovely atmosphere. We’ve both been here and had a rubbish result, yet you still get the support.”
Of a win on their native British soil, Button is confident the McLaren team will do well: “Winning at home, you celebrate with your home crowd. I‘ve never even been on the podium here, and I’m going to change that this year.”
Button remains wary of Red Bull, which has proven to be dominant on the Silverstone track, but have prevailed throughout the year with record times. The team is quick on all aspects of driving and mechanics, and Sebastian Vettel won on the course last year.
Mark Webber recovered from the back flip he took in Spain last week. The car sustained substantial damage but Webber will be driving in Vettel’s old chassis, which has been upgraded and repaired.
Ferrari’s diffuser is working well, and they are hoping for stronger results at Silverton. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso says the team is ready technically, mentally, and physically after significant updates on the F10.
“The development programme is intensive and I think we will see it produce results.”
Robert Kubica revised his contract with Renault and shouldn’t be overlooked as a contender. Kubica’s stumbling block has been a struggle with tyre temperature. The same generation problems plague Mercedes' Nico Roseberg, Michael Schumacher, and even Button the last time he drove at Silverstone.
Even though the Motor GP riders complained about bumps in the track, the newly revised Silverstone has been highly praised. The track will require teams to use more downforce in the new village complex. The layout of the circuit track and abrasion from the track surface will mean high speeds and high lateral force and will present a new challenge for drivers, engineers and tyre suppliers.
Tags: