McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh focused on development – Formula 1 news
Martin Whitmarsh, the team principal at McLaren, believes that a Formula 1 version of an arms race will decide who wins the title at the end of the season this year.
The Austrian team and the defending champions Red Bull have had a clear edge over others in the first two races during the Australian and Malaysian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel was virtually unchallenged and strolled to victory. McLaren though had been taking
ground in the first two races and showed great strategic brilliance and skill on the tracks as Lewis Hamilton won the China Grand Prix to end the Asian leg.
Sebastian Vettel has been head and shoulders above the chasing pack this season, and has been in pole position in all three qualifying sessions this season. But McLaren’s recent revival has meant that with the 21 races long season they may be able to catch
up in time.
The headway made by McLaren was evident in the China Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton lifted his performance a great deal, following some disappointing performances in the pre-season testing sessions.
The European leg of the season is about to begin, and Vettel leads the points table with Hamilton 21 points adrift in second place. Jenson Button the other McLaren driver is in 3rd place with a difference of 30 points.
Whitmarsh believes that the way his team has progressed over the last three races is a great indication that progress has been made on the track for them. He added that when it comes to developing the car and putting in the updates and modifications McLaren
can really make a difference.
"Winning in China was a fantastic reward for all the hard effort that's been undertaken, both at the racetrack and the McLaren Technology Centre, to turn this year's car into a race winner," said Whitmarsh.
Whitmarsh said that the team is excited by the consistency shown by the two drivers, and there was plenty in the first three races to suggest that there is room for improvement in different areas. He added that as the European leg is about to begin, there
will be different tracks and fresh new challenges for not just McLaren but for other teams, including Red Bull.
He added, "We're excited and encouraged by the pace and consistency that both drivers have shown in the opening three flyaway races, but the return to Europe brings fresh challenges”.
The team boss at McLaren said that there is doubt in the teams planning and that they need to make some big changes if they need to keep pace with Red Bull and other rivals.
There has been a gap of almost three and a half weeks between the China Grand prix and the next race, and all teams will have some updated packages ready for the next race. Whitmarsh believes that whoever gets it right for the next leg will have a great
chance of taking a significant lead after the first quarter of the season.
The 2011 formula one season will be the longest of all time with 21 races in the calendar. The addition of new tracks like Delhi may offer new challenges to all teams. And with neither of them having any knowledge of the tracks at those venues it may give
other teams chance to make ground on Red Bull who has once again taken a head start over others.
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