BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX RACE
Team McLaren Mercedes drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Pedro de
la Rosa finished today's 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix in fifth
and eighth place respectively. Kimi was on a two-stop strategy
pitting on laps 21 (8.5 seconds) and 51 (7.1 seconds), whilst
Pedro was on a one-stop strategy coming in on lap 35 (10.8
seconds). Team McLaren Mercedes finished third overall in
the Constructors' Championship with 110 points. Kimi finished
fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 65 points, Juan Pablo
Montoya is eighth with 26 points and Pedro 11th with 19 points.
KIMI RAIKKONEN
"This was a very difficult race. My car was not easy
to drive today because I didn't have much grip. The straight
line speed could have been better as it was not easy to overtake
slower cars. I ran wide once towards the end of the race which
allowed Michael Schumacher to close in, and despite all my
efforts I couldn't keep him behind. As this is my last race
for Team McLaren Mercedes I want to thank everybody in the
team who have supported me throughout my five years here."
PEDRO DE LA ROSA
"A very tough race for me. I was on a one-stop strategy
and obviously this was a little too hard for the tyres. As
a result I couldn't really attack, but at least I scored one
point for the team. On the occasion of this last race of the
season I want to thank my team for giving me the opportunity
to race, it was a pleasure and an honour to compete for Team
McLaren Mercedes this year. I would also like to congratulate
my compatriot Fernando Alonso on winning his second Drivers'
World Championship."
RON DENNIS
"A disappointing outcome and not the way to finish what
has been a difficult season. However next season already starts
tomorrow. Congratulations to Fernando for winning the World
Championship again. We will work hard to give him the same
opportunity next year. I would like to wish Kimi all the best
for next year, but as you would expect we will be doing our
very best to ensure that we beat him."
NORBERT HAUG
"The result is not what we expected today. Obviously
we didn't have the race speed to achieve a better position
from second place on the grid. We will now focus all our efforts
on the next season in order to definitely do a much better
job. Congratulations to Fernando Alonso and Renault on winning
both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. I want
to thank Kimi for the five years he has competed for us and
we are looking forward to race against him next year. As this
was Michael's last race of his career I would like to wish
him all the best for his future life, Formula 1 will be different
without him, but I always will have great memories of his
15 years in the sport."
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