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New McLaren car to hit the circuit in European GP
London, May 24: McLaren`s managing director Martin Whitmarsh has told reporters that the team aims to race its new car at next month`s European Grand Prix.
London, May 24: McLaren's managing director Martin Whitmarsh has told reporters that the team aims to race its new car at next month's European Grand Prix.
Whitmarsh said McLaren had taken considerable technical risks to create a machine capable of rivalling the new Ferrari. And he indicated that the target for the MP4-18's debut was the race at the Nurburgring on 29 June.
"It's not in my mind a secret that we would like to introduce it there. I think it's realistic and feasible, but it's early days yet," Whitmarsh told reporters. "We've just started to run the car. Inevitably there are some teething problems, technical issues to be resolved.
"Fortunately so far they've been of the variety which are frustrating and annoying but they are not large dramas. We'll fight through those fairly quickly.
"There is a target to go racing at the European Grand Prix but we will manage the risk by making the decision nearer the date."
McLaren's test driver Alex Wurz put the MP4-18 through its paces for the first time this week at Le Castellet circuit in southern France. Whitmarsh said it would be introduced in two stages - the MP4-18X first and then the MP4-18A, which will have a different transmission system and a greater level of technical risk.
"Everyone involved in it really believes in it at the moment," he said. "In terms of technical risk I think it's greater than I've ever seen incorporated in the last 15 McLaren cars.
"Everyone has squeezed their heads and put every thought and idea they could into this project.
"I don't think anyone doubts that the car will be quick. But I also think there's an intuitive buzz in the company when they look at how extreme the car is and how expensive it looks."
The new Ferrari has brought Michael Schumacher back-to-back wins in its first two races, but McLaren believe it is beatable.
"I think last year we made them look better than they were in that Williams and McLaren underperformed," said Whitmarsh. "They did a good job last year but not an extraordinary job. They were beatable.
"They did do an extraordinary job on reliability. We've now got to put them under some pressure so they have to take more technical risk.
"But, encouragingly, whilst their new car is clearly a very, very good car, it hasn't moved the game on significantly as far as we can see so far.
"Maybe in two races it's too early to say but it certainly doesn't appear to have been a big jump forward. We've got every expectation that we can make a step.
"We aim to give them a fight this year. Hopefully we can prevail. If we don't then we're going to be even stronger next year."
Bureau Report
Whitmarsh said McLaren had taken considerable technical risks to create a machine capable of rivalling the new Ferrari. And he indicated that the target for the MP4-18's debut was the race at the Nurburgring on 29 June.
"It's not in my mind a secret that we would like to introduce it there. I think it's realistic and feasible, but it's early days yet," Whitmarsh told reporters. "We've just started to run the car. Inevitably there are some teething problems, technical issues to be resolved.
"Fortunately so far they've been of the variety which are frustrating and annoying but they are not large dramas. We'll fight through those fairly quickly.
"There is a target to go racing at the European Grand Prix but we will manage the risk by making the decision nearer the date."
McLaren's test driver Alex Wurz put the MP4-18 through its paces for the first time this week at Le Castellet circuit in southern France. Whitmarsh said it would be introduced in two stages - the MP4-18X first and then the MP4-18A, which will have a different transmission system and a greater level of technical risk.
"Everyone involved in it really believes in it at the moment," he said. "In terms of technical risk I think it's greater than I've ever seen incorporated in the last 15 McLaren cars.
"Everyone has squeezed their heads and put every thought and idea they could into this project.
"I don't think anyone doubts that the car will be quick. But I also think there's an intuitive buzz in the company when they look at how extreme the car is and how expensive it looks."
The new Ferrari has brought Michael Schumacher back-to-back wins in its first two races, but McLaren believe it is beatable.
"I think last year we made them look better than they were in that Williams and McLaren underperformed," said Whitmarsh. "They did a good job last year but not an extraordinary job. They were beatable.
"They did do an extraordinary job on reliability. We've now got to put them under some pressure so they have to take more technical risk.
"But, encouragingly, whilst their new car is clearly a very, very good car, it hasn't moved the game on significantly as far as we can see so far.
"Maybe in two races it's too early to say but it certainly doesn't appear to have been a big jump forward. We've got every expectation that we can make a step.
"We aim to give them a fight this year. Hopefully we can prevail. If we don't then we're going to be even stronger next year."
Bureau Report