Friday: McLaren works for pole position and the Grand Prix
If the one-lap performances seem to be mastered, it's in the exercise of long stints that the Woking team wants to focus, in order to take advantage of a possible start from the front row. This involves, in particular, better management of tire wear.
Lewis Hamilton – 1st and 1st
« It was a good day for me. We made some adjustments to the car’s balance since the last race, and I am happier, but we are still making changes to improve our pace on long runs, which can always be better. I am working as hard as possible to have as good setups in qualifying as in the race, and I think we know more about the car’s behavior with a large amount of fuel. I went wide twice in my long run during FP2, and taking care of the tires will be a challenging task in the race, so it’s all about finding the right balance. Overtaking will be a bit easier here than in Melbourne. Nevertheless, starting from the front will always be the best place for the race, and that’s what I will fight for tomorrow. We must keep pushing, stay hydrated, and focused: there’s a lot of work ahead of us. »
Jenson Button – 9th and 3rd
« This morning was a bit frustrating: we had an oil leak that shortened my session, but it didn’t really have any consequences because the track was still very dirty. In the afternoon, I completed some positive stints with both types of tires. I think we have a great understanding of the tires. But it’s going to be difficult on both types of tires here, with all this humidity and heat. I believe the race will be challenging for everyone: unless the track improves significantly, there should be a number of pit stops on Sunday! We want a good race car, but the goal for tomorrow is the pole: life is easier if you start from pole position, so we are doing a lot of work on qualifying performance. »
