McLaren hopes to recover before the break

While coming off a victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, thanks to Lewis Hamilton, the McLaren team quickly became disillusioned in the next two races: only 9 points gathered, compared to 55 for Ferrari, 52 for Red Bull, and 36 for Lotus, all now ahead of the Woking team in the standings. Among the so-called “established” teams, only Williams, Sauber, and Toro Rosso have done worse! And if in Valencia, the abandonment of the 2008 World Champion due to a collision with Pastor Maldonado had prevented the acquisition of about ten additional points, the British Grand Prix took place under almost normal circumstances—aside from the Friday and Saturday rain—resulting in 8th and 10th places, hardly dignified for the English team.

This British weekend turned out to be very disappointing, to the point that it was almost overlooked by the McLaren drivers: “I quickly moved past the disappointment of our weekend at Silverstone by running with the Olympic Flame the day after the race and promptly turning my attention to Hockenheim,” explains Lewis Hamilton. “In terms of performance, I still think it’s difficult to precisely predict where we will be in the hierarchy – Valencia and Silverstone were certainly complicated races for us, but I don’t think they were truly representative of our speed,” says Jenson Button.

On the management side, they prefer to focus only on the enthusiasm shown by the British people despite the conditions: « The Silverstone weekend was difficult for us—made better by the support all around the circuit for Jenson, Lewis, and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. Indeed, it was very encouraging to see that even after a disappointing result, their enthusiasm remained intact. They are a constant motivation for me and for everyone at McLaren », claims Martin Whitmarsh, the team principal.

The English boss is already looking towards the future, marked by the two races coming up in as many weeks: “Of course, after Silverstone, our attention quickly shifted to Hockenheim, which, along with the Hungaroring, will conclude the first half of the season at the end of the month. The entire team is determined to close the gap with the championship leaders before the start of the holidays,” he explains.

A similar speech from Jenson Button, who believes that this pair of races before the break will be important for the whole team: Coming off a few disappointing weekends, it’s crucial that we take advantage of the opportunities that will present themselves in Germany and Hungary. And according to the 2009 World Champion, the way to do this is by having a weekend without the slightest problem: This year, you really need a smooth path to the race if you want to maximize the potential of your car – and that’s exactly what we hope for the next weekend in Germany, he explains.

Hockenheim is therefore the first step in the purchase for the English team. But the track, modified after the 2001 race, no longer has the same flavor as when it was made up of long straights lined with trees, which Jenson Button experienced (a long time ago, according to him). A privilege his teammate did not have: It’s always been a regret for me to have arrived in F1 too late to race on the old Hockenheim track, where the circuit disappeared into the forest and was only interrupted by relatively fast chicanes. It must have been incredible to battle with so little downforce, engaged in a slipstream fight with another car, waiting for the right moment to jump and overtake.

But the new version still holds great interest for the drivers: “I’ve always appreciated Hockenheim,” says Jenson Button. “I had a great race here in 2004, finishing second, even though I started 13th after a penalty for an engine change. It’s a circuit where you can attack; it’s good for racing, and the new layout is better for spectators.” For his teammate, “it’s a place built for racing”: “The hairpin at the end of the parabolica is a classic overtaking point, and the whole track seems to invite the car behind to try and overtake. It’s also the first time we’re coming to Hockenheim with DRS, so it should contribute to an even more exciting race.”

The upcoming Grand Prix is all the more important as it will be – barring any incident – the 100th of Lewis Hamilton’s career, in an unbelievable manner according to him: “It’s incredible, because I still remember my first as if it were yesterday. I guess that’s the kind of effect F1 can have on you!”

Finally, the last connection between McLaren and the German Grand Prix is that it’s the home race for their long-time engine supplier, Mercedes: « We have many happy racing memories in Germany with our friends at Mercedes-Benz. This year, while we remain rivals on the track, I’m sure it will be an opportunity to reunite with some good friends and enjoy the famous Mercedes-Benz hospitality », concluded Martin Whitmarsh.