McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton hits back on Martin Brundle’s comments for MP4-26 - Formula 1
McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton brushed off Martin Brundle’s speculations for the new team car, MP4-26. The Formula 1 expert and commentator, in a 2011 Formula 1 season review, stated that the new McLaren car seems like "a mess".
However, the 2008 World Champion and McLaren ace driver, Hamilton accepted that the car did not seem to be in a Championship winning condition at the moment. However, he believes that very soon the team will come up with the right upgrades in the car, and
its pace will be much better.
While talking to the media in Melbourne Hamilton explained, “I wouldn't agree with what he (Brundle) says. Everyone is going to have opinions about it. They don't drive it so they don't know exactly how it is. The car feels better than last year's car. They
are very similar to drive in some ways. It is maybe not as good in some ways because we have lost downforce. I think it is something that we can work on.”
McLaren started the 2010 Formula 1 season in a much similar fashion. Last year, at most of the rounds, the British drivers Jenson Button and Hamilton were simply not able to match the pace of the top rivals, Ferrari and Red Bull. The speed difference ultimately
led to Red Bull’s double title win, while only a poor race strategy by Ferrari cost Fernando Alonso the drivers' title.
McLaren is about to begin another season in quite a similar manner, with Ferrari and Red Bull again at the sharp end. Both the teams have shown some spectacular laps during the initial practice sessions.
Earlier this week, the leading three sport analysts Brundle, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan expressed their concern over the McLaren car. Brundle told the media, "[The McLaren] didn't turn in. It couldn't get the power down. Lewis [Hamilton] looked absolutely
at sea in the thing. Clearly they have a fundamental issue."
However, after the second day of practice, Hamilton believes that things are turning out to be better for them. At the second day of practice, the Briton ended at fourth place with his fastest lap in 1:22.888s. However, due to reliability issues of the car,
once again, the driver was not able to cover any more than 57 laps.
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