''We've made substantial improvements''Ahead of the French Grand Prix, McLaren Mercedes CEO Formula 1 Martin Whitmarsh discusses the MP4-23's performance levels, as well as the team's strategy in regards to Lewis Hamilton's ten-spot penalty on the starting grid following
the 'Montreal gaffe.'
How confident are you that the MP4-23 will remain competitive once the F1 circus returns to Europe?
"Traditionally, we've always gone well at Monaco and we've recently enjoyed strong pace in Canada, and we remain encouraged by our performance. We feel like we've made substantial improvements to the MP4-23 and, while it didn't exactly pay off in Canada, we go into France in a very positive frame of mind. One of the aims of our winter development programme was to improve the car's high-speed performance and we feel we've been able to do that - and both Magny-Cours and Silverstone will give us the opportunities to demonstrate that."
How will you tackle the race knowing that Lewis will be starting ten places further back than usual?
"Obviously, we go to France knowing we only have the capability to field one car on the optimum strategy, so our job will be a little different from normal. But we still expect to extract the very maximum performance levels from both cars. Both Lewis and Heikki are very confident about their chances and we will be working hard with the strategists and engineers in order to provide them both with the optimum strategy for the race."
