Post
by Ed » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:29 pm
Selected teams and driver Q&A's:
Martin Whitmarsh, Chief Operating Officer
Q: What are your expectations for the 2007 Formula 1 season ?
A: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has the expectation of winning each and every year. Inevitably people can look at our performance last season and be able to criticise us and frankly, we didn’t do a good enough job. My feeling, having been at this point of the season on many occasions before, is highly optimistic for 2007. We are devoid of the tyre competition that we have had in recent years; however we are very happy with our relationship with Bridgestone and their technical approach. We have been working hard on the engineering package and believe we have made good progress to improve our performance.
Meanwhile we have what we believe to be the most exciting driver line-up in Formula 1 for many years. Fernando is obviously a very proven product and an extraordinary double World Champion. He is still a very young and ambitious driver who wants to win many World Championships with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. His arrival in the team has been highly motivational.
Alongside Fernando we have the excitement of the debut year for Lewis. We have of course worked with Lewis for a decade so he is very well known to the team. His level of preparation and commitment is unprecedented. He has not only excelled, but exceeded our expectations with all the challenges that we have set him to reach this point. We must be a little cautious and control our enthusiasm because Formula 1 is a very challenging environment, but in time we have little doubt that Lewis will be a winning driver in the sport.”
Fernando Alonso
Q: Fernando, what was your inspiration behind joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes?
A: First of all, joining a new team always offers you something more and gives you this extra motivation. Everything is completely new, you are learning new things and understanding different approaches, it provides an extra challenge and inspiration. Also with my experiences over the past five or six years, I will also try to give something to the team, and I think this combination between the experience of the two can make a very strong package and great relationship in the next couple of years.
Q: What does it mean to be introducing your new team to your fans in your home country?
A: It is really important for me. I have a lot of fantastic support from the Spanish people and for me to be in this new project starting from Valencia in my home country will be something special for sure. I have very special feelings and emotions today and I am hoping it will be the start of a fantastic season.
Lewis Hamilton
Q: When did you first dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver, and did you then imagine it would be with one of the leading teams within the sport?
A: It is difficult to be sure but like most kids, I am sure I dreamt of one day racing with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Now my dream has literally turned into a reality and I am driving not only in Formula 1 but also for the same team as Ayrton and Alain did. I worked hard to make it to Formula 1 but never imagined it would actually be with a team such as McLaren and in my first year!
Q: 2006 was an incredibly successful year for you, how will 2007 continue this personal high?
A: 2006 was a fantastic year, a year in which everything I had learned through karting, Formula Renault and Formula 3 all came together in GP2. I learned a great deal in GP2 and thank Frederic Vasseur and everyone at ART for their support. At the end of each year, I sit down with my manager and we review and evaluate the year and come up with a plan for the following year. 2007 will be no different to any other year. Once I have a plan, I always follow it to the end. I know I have to work harder to be stronger mentally and physically and to prepare myself for whatever may come my way in Formula 1, but am ready and relishing the challenge.
Pedro de la Rosa
Q: Pedro, what does it mean to you to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in your home country?
A: It is extremely special to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in my country for two reasons: first, because I am Spanish and it is a honour that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have chosen my home country in front of my people. Second, because we are launching the team with Fernando, a fellow Spaniard and World Champion for whom I have a great respect.
Q: How are you looking forward to working with Fernando and Lewis?
A: Fernando is the first World Champion I have ever worked with. That, for me, is already a huge extra motivation. With Lewis we have already worked together in 2006 and get on well.
Gary Paffett
Q: What are you thoughts on the MP4-22?
A: I haven't seen much of it yet but it sounds very promising. Over the winter testing we seem to have a stronger package than we did this time last year so I can't wait to see what the MP4-22 can give us.
Q: How have preparations been progressing with the MP4-22 at the McLaren Technology Centre and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines?
A: We have been doing a massive amount of simulation work at the McLaren Technology Centre since the middle of last year, and we feel the development is going really well. HPE have a good understanding of the V8 engine and they seem to be making some fairly big steps forward.
and will be right again 
