Sam Michael says that there will not be a massive shake-up on the grid in 2013 – Formula 1 news
McLaren’s sporting director, Sam Michael, has stated that he does not expect any massive shake-up on the grid during the 2013 F1 season.
“They [midfield teams] will close up a little bit. I don't think there'll be any massive shake-up on the grid though,” said Michael. “We'll be in the normal situation at the front with McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. Then the rest of them I can't predict.
The great thing about Formula 1 is that someone could always go out and do a stonking car, have a good driver in there and be part of the action. You've got to say Lotus are looking very good. You've got to expect Force India to return strong next year. And
Mercedes, of course.”
He added that it is not possible for him to predict which other F1 team will be competitive as he does not know what are they doing presently. He said that he can only comment on what McLaren is doing and that he thinks whatever development they have done
up till now will help them to be successful next season.
Michael had stated earlier that their previous car had certainly been stronger towards the end of the 2012 F1 season as McLaren won both of the last two races. He had also added that the team is focused on working with their new driver, Sergio Perez, who
has replaced Lewis Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, stated that their rival of this season, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, will remain a strong threat next year for their reigning champion Sebastian Vettel. Vettel has also expressed that winning the title
this season was stressful and that wining is becoming harder with each year. He said that Mercedes’ Hamilton and McLaren’s Jenson Button will also be competitive.
F1 expert, Johnny Herbert, has also predicted that Button and Lotus F1’s Kimi Raikkonen will also be posing a strong threat. Raikkonen is obviously expected to improve more since his performance this year has been consistent enough to complete all twenty
races; scoring points in each one of them.
All F1 teams are developing their new car to present it for the pre-season testing but Red Bull has admitted that their car is behind schedule.
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