Mclaren Admit Mistakes In The Turkish F1 Grand Prix
Formula one team McLaren have finally admitted that there were some errors in communication with the 2 drivers in the Turkish GP, when Hamilton and Button both almost crashed while trying to overtake each other.
18 laps before the end, when Red Bull team self destructed as Vettel while in an effort to overtake his team mate Mark Webber smashed in to his car, and in result Vettel was sent crashing out of the race, while Webber lost his number one spot to Hamilton and Button charged into the 2nd place.
And on lap 50, Hamilton was quite upset when the current world champion Jenson Button overtook him, despite being assured by the pit crew that it would not happen.
Martin Whitmarsh who is the McLaren team principal tried to clear the air, by saying that Phil told Hamilton that Button would not overtake which was simply an instinctive response and was nothing bias towards any driver.
Whitmash said: "Chief engineer Phil Prew told Lewis that Jenson would not overtake.
"It was an instinctive response but that opinion was clearly wrong."
The team principal went on to say that when the race approaches its climax, there is always this confusion that whether the engine should be protected, or the car should be tested to their limits, and the same reason is what led to the difference of opinion in the pit, and eventually led to the misinterpretation of the scenario.
"Inevitably there is a dilemma as you get to the end of the race about how hard you can race and we had that amply demonstrated to us that a team and its drivers can get it wrong," added Whitmarsh.
Whitmarsh said that the ambition to win the race in both drivers is in effect beneficial to the team, just the fact that Istanbul GP has been faster than expected, the cars had been pushed to the limits way before the end, and hence the pit crew instructed the drivers to save fuel.
"There is no doubt both of our drivers wanted to win, but the race had been quicker than expected in the early part so both drivers had been given the same instruction to save fuel."
Lewis Hamilton had Button right on his tail, and was worried about the possibility of his team mate overtaking him, and even though the F1 rule which is "interfere with competition" states that there can be no instructions sent to the drivers as far as competition is concerned.
On Monday an official audio communication was released by F1 on their website, where Hamilton could clearly be heard saying: "If I back off, is Jenson going to pass me or not?"
The pit crew replied by: "No, Lewis. No."
But that was not the case, as with only 10 laps top go Hamilton slowed down while crossing turn 8, Button made full use of it and made his move and took the lead.
Hamilton though showed his ability and reclaimed the lead just after the next lap began, and at the end of turn one; both McLaren drivers were seen brushing tyres.
McLaren team principal Whitmarsh once again defended Buttons move , and said that Hamilton slowed down more than expected, and Button just pounced on the opportunity: "It wasn't expected that Lewis would lift off as much as he did in Turn Eight and Jenson, when he saw that, thought it was an opportunity and subsequently made the pass," said Whitmarsh.
However looking at the next race in Canada, McLaren will go into the race with few minor modifications to their car, and are hopeful that they can build on the win from Istanbul and continue the momentum to end Red Bull domination.
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