McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh wants team to improve – Formula 1 news
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has said that the team has been working hard after the Malaysian Grand Prix in order to remain competitive against other teams.
McLaren has been tagged as the favourite team to contend the Constructors Championship and the drivers’ title. McLaren finished the Australian Grand Prix with a one two finish.
Jenson Button was tipped to be the leading driver this season especially after he won the opening Australian Grand Prix. The Malaysian Grand Prix sprung a surprise with Fernando Alonso’s taking the win. No one gave Ferrari a chance because of the technical
difficulties they have endured so far in the new F2012.
Weather did play a major role in Alonso’s stunner but it also shows how small the error margin is this season. Gap between teams is very tight and it is anyone’s game right now.
Whitmarsh understand the game very well and knows that the car needs to be updated continuously in order to keep it competitive. Red Bull are close behind McLaren with Lotus and Mercedes not too far behind.
Whitmarsh admitted that the camp was not happy at not winning in Malaysia but that now the focus is on keeping dominance on other teams throughout the season.
“While there are mixed feelings to have only been able to convert two all-front-row starting positions into one race win, everybody here at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes feels extremely encouraged by our pace in the first two grands prix of the season,” Whitmarsh
said.
“Make no mistake, however: we're acutely aware that our rivals won't have stood still during the past three weeks. We've certainly been extremely busy, too, and we don't take anything for granted: if the overall competitive order was a little hard to read
in the first two races, I have no doubt that it will start to become clearer next weekend, and I strongly believe that, once again, it will be closely fought at the front,” he added.
It will be interesting to see how McLaren fare as the season progresses. The next race is scheduled for April 15, 2012 at Shanghai, China.
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