ESPN F1 [UK]  Junkie Jabber Mclaren Monaco GP Preview
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Mclaren Monaco GP Preview |
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Saturday, 16 May 2009 |
McLaren 2009 Monaco Grand Prix Preview
15th May 2009
Lewis Hamilton
“Monaco is my favourite circuit. The sensation you get from racing up
the hill at 175mph, trying to make as straight a line as possible between
the barriers while just shaving them with the walls of the tyres is
unbelievable – the best sensation you could ever have in a Formula 1
car. There’s an expectation that Monaco will be another good circuit for
our car package because the combination of low-speed corners and absence
of any really fast stuff should suit MP4-24. I really hope so because it
would be fantastic to have a competitive car and to be fighting at the
front again. |
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Heikki Kovalainen
“I really enjoy driving on street circuits and I’m optimistic that
we’ve got a good package for Monaco. Although the results don’t show
it, because I was forced to start from the pitlane, I had a very strong
race here last year and charged up from the back to finish eighth.
Hopefully, I’ll have an easier race this year! We will be using KERS in
Monaco and one of the questions will be whether we’ll actually be able
to use it to get past other cars – as usual, KERS will be a benefit for
us, but anything can happen in Monte Carlo. Coming off the back of a
disappointing race in Spain last week, I’m more determined than ever to
get a strong result under my belt.”
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Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is rightfully proud of the
team’s reputation around the streets of Monte Carlo. We have won the
grand prix for the past two seasons and McLaren has triumphed here an
unprecedented 15 times – more than any other Formula 1 team. As a
result, we go into the race with a greater degree of optimism than we had
going into Barcelona: both Lewis and Heikki enjoy this circuit and we feel
MP4-24 will be a more competitive proposition around the streets of the
principality.”
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Norbert Haug
Vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“The Monaco Grand Prix is certainly the most classic race on the
calendar of the Formula 1 World Championship and the one that gets the
broadest audience worldwide. Monaco is thrilling each and every year and
everybody involved in Formula 1 has to be proud that this prestigious
event is part of our campaign. Our track record in the principality looks
good – since our first victory in 1998, we have won there on six of 11
occasions, an achievement which makes this circuit obviously one of our
favourites. Our results have not been strong lately so we all will be very
focused in Monaco in order to create an upwards trend.” |
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