McLaren wants to win for its 700th F1 race

McLaren seems to be the team most capable of competing with Red Bull for victory at the moment, as evidenced by the three victories secured by the team in the last six races – including two wins for Button and five consecutive podiums for the 2009 champion.

Martin Whitmarsh knows the momentum is positive at the moment, especially for Button, and he hopes the Briton—who recently signed a long-term extension—can continue to be competitive in South Korea. And the McLaren director would like to see his two drivers on the top steps of the podium, which would be the team’s first double victory this season.

«We have not lost our ambition to win even though the drivers’ championship is now over, and I know that our two drivers would really like to achieve a one-two for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes before the end of the season to once again prove that we have a very competitive car at the moment, » confided Martin Whitmarsh.

The South Korean Grand Prix will also mark McLaren’s 700th Grand Prix in Formula 1, and the best way for the team to celebrate this would be by securing a victory.

«There is also a strong sense of pride within the team for the South Korean Grand Prix, which will mark McLaren’s 700th Formula 1 Grand Prix – it’s a major achievement, so hopefully we can celebrate it with another victory, » added Whitmarsh.

The McLaren team is the second team to have participated in the most Formula 1 Grand Prix races – 699 so far compared to 826 for Ferrari, which leads this ranking. McLaren has won 174 victories in 699 races, almost one victory every four Grand Prix on average. The team has also secured 464 podiums and achieved 146 pole positions in the same time frame.