McLaren: "Button and Hamilton will be our strong point"

The McLaren team is definitely banking on the 2010 car to return to winning the title. After the turning point, which occurred in July in Hungary, the team brought improvements until the end of the season just ended. Improvements that will be repeated on the new MP4-25.

“It's still too early to say how competitive we will be, but this year we have taken a more aggressive approach to building the new car. Which we haven't done in past years” declares Paddy Lowe.

“We took advantage of the strong development done on the MP4-24, to get off to a good start with the new car. We feel optimistic and are making great progress, but at the same time we know how much good the other teams are doing. I would be surprised if Red Bull and Ferrari don't create a very strong package, just as I think they will build an extremely fast car in MercedesGP.”

He then goes on to declare that the car will not be built around Hamilton. "Not at all. When you design a car you do it in the most neutral way possible, and the only way to do that is to make it ergonomic. It won't be a problem for Jenson, we're sure of it.”

Jonathan Neale also thinks like his colleague Lowe: "We're lucky because both Lewis and Jenson boast a fairly clean driving style, as does Pedro, so it's unlikely that there will be any problems next season."

He continues by mentioning what will be the most radical regulatory change, namely the impossibility of refueling during the race. “By starting with a full tank, people believe that managing tire degradation by the driver will be fundamental, but we don't think that's the case.

Driving speed depends on a wide range of variables and it is more the characteristics of the car that create tire degradation rather than the driver.”

Neale believes that the duel between Button and Hamilton will not damage the team, on the contrary it will make it a strong point. “I'm sure it will be a fantastic couple. They have different skills, and from January we will be able to exploit their knowledge in a pre-season test session."

“In this way we would have more opportunities – he continues – there may be circuits in which Jenson adapts better, just as there may be circuits in which Lewis can excel. In the past Button has demonstrated considerable talent in interpreting high-speed tracks."

Finally he closes by reminding that the drivers will start on equal terms. “By putting both drivers in the same conditions – something we have always done in this team – we hope to be able to do well everywhere.”