Hungarian Grand Prix – the fallout

August 6, 2007 by paul
Filed under: Uncategorized

Looks like things at McLaren are still pretty tense after yesterday’s race…

Post-race interviews with McLaren team boss Ron Dennis:

A weekend full of stress and emotion. The issues that faced us, not just this weekend but also in the previous month, has tested the resolve of the whole team. It’s at these times that you have to stay true to your principles and values. We will take the time between now and the Turkish Grand Prix to continue to develop the car and strive to maintain our winning streak. Both drivers did great jobs in different but very difficult circumstances.

[source: UpdateF1.com]

I’m pretty tired to be honest. A lot of stress, a lot of pressure and a bit of emptiness at the end of an extremely difficult weekend for the company and for the team.

You know what happened yesterday was really unacceptable.

I don’t think either driver is blameless in this situation.

There is a tremendous amount of tension in the team and the tension really comes from, understandably maybe, two guys who are phenomenally competitive and who are currently heading the world championship points and are looking for every advantage they can get in a system which does not generate advantage. There are frustrations with both of them and sometimes mistrust with both of them. It is tough for us, but we will not deviate away from equality – it’s the foundation of the company.

I am so drained it is difficult to have any emotion left.

But we will not, under any circumstances, favour one driver over the other.

[source: ITV-F1]

Ron Dennis also hinted that McLaren may not appeal the FIA’s penalty:

This was one of those times where as hard as you try – and we tried very hard – there was a deviation from our plans in qualifying and that put the team in an extremely difficult position which has cost us all of the constructors’ points today in the event that we don’t follow through with lodging an appeal.

[source: ITV-F1]

Lewis Hamilton says he’s apologised for a heated exchange with Ron Dennis:

Dennis and Alonso revealed to the press in Budapest that the incident had been triggered by Hamilton repeatedly ignoring a radio order to let his Spanish teammate past in the ‘Q3′ phase of qualifying.

“I am in a lot of trouble with my boss,” Hamilton told the British broadcaster ITV before he won the race, albeit reiterating that Alonso does not have “a great excuse” for holding him up in the pits.

[source: UpdateF1.com]

The childishness continues:

World champion Fernando Alonso has cast doubt on his future with McLaren after relations with his team-mate Lewis Hamilton reached an all-time low.

Asked if he was happy to stay at McLaren, Alonso said: “We’ll see.”

His remarks will do nothing to quell speculation that the 26-year-old might seek an early release from his McLaren deal, which still has two years to run and is worth £33.8m.

[source: BBC]