SUMMARY OF TEAM PERSONNEL Q&A's
The launch today of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team marks
the start of a new era for the team, including the arrival
of two new drivers with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton
forming an exciting pairing going into 2007.
The team has conducted extensive Q&As with Fernando,
Lewis, Pedro de la Rosa, Gary Paffett and Martin Whitmarsh
prior to today’s launch. The below is a preview of these,
and the extended versions can be found on http://www.mclaren.com
FERNANDO ALONSO
Fernando, what was your inspiration behind joining
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes?
“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.”
What do you feel Vodafone McLaren Mercedes offers
you that other Formula 1 teams can’t?
“In terms of professionalism and technology, the Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes team gives me support for the future. I believe
it is the right team for me to switch to, to have a competitive
car in the future, I don’t see a better option than
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. I am really looking forward to
the season and am really happy and motivated to be a part
of this new team.”
What does it mean to be introducing your new team
to your fans in your home country?
“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.”
Will the demonstration run in Valencia be the first
time you have driven a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car?
“The demonstration run around the Cuidad de las Artes
y de la Ciencias will be the second time I have driven with
the team, following my one day test in December at Jerez.
However this will be the first time I have driven for Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes in the team’s livery with all the sponsors,
so it will be an exciting time. Being in my home country,
the first time in public with my new team and also on the
streets taking the cars so close to the fans will be a great
day.”
LEWIS HAMILTON
How does it feel to be officially launched as a Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes driver alongside your teammates and car that
you will compete with in 2007?
“The feeling is indescribable. Growing up I always
dreamed of racing for McLaren and now, I am. The thought of
racing and working with my teammates is a great feeling, to
be driving a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is literally a surreal
feeling. I am extremely thankful to my family as without their
unwavering support and hard work I would not be here in this
position. I am tremendously grateful to Ron Dennis, Martin
Whitmarsh, and Norbert Haug for the long-term support and
guidance they have given me for so many years and for this
wonderful opportunity.”
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?
“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!”
2006 was an incredibly successful year for you, how
will 2007 continue this personal high?
“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
Pedro, what does it mean to you to be launching the new Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes team in your home country?
“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.”
How are you looking forward to working with Fernando
and Lewis?
“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
What are you thoughts on the MP4-22?
“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.”
How have preparations been progressing with the MP4-22
at the McLaren Technology Centre and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines?
“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.”
MARTIN WHITMARSH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, McLAREN
GROUP
What are your expectations for the 2007 Formula 1
season?
“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.
In the meanwhile we have the stability of two great test
drivers in our organisation with Pedro and Gary. They’ve
both been an inspiration to the team, with their professionalism
and motivation throughout 2006. Their commitment to contributing
to the programme is unwavering and we are delighted to have
their continuity and experience to support Fernando and Lewis.”
This must be an exciting time for the team with two
new drivers and a new Title Sponsor, can you explain what
it means to be launching the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team
today?
“The launch of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is
the culmination of more than a years work from our Marketing
colleagues, and it obviously represents an important milestone
for our organisation. The nature and structure of the Formula
1 team requires strong Partners to be involved, and with a
Title Sponsor with the calibre, energy and breadth of Vodafone,
it is a commercially exciting time for the team. Everyone
involved in motor racing has the ambition of winning in Formula
1 and has great passion to do so. Therefore with the coming
of each season, we look forward to the fresh challenges with
anticipation. Vodafone is a highly successful company that
wants to win, which is our mission and that of Mercedes-Benz.
So we have the three principal Partners in the organisation
sharing the same vision. This means we will all, from time
to time, put pressure on each other, but that is a useful
and stimulating force. In addition to Vodafone, we must also
recognise the vital role played by the entire world class
Partner group of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. The support
we receive is invaluable and we look forward to what we hope
will be a competitive season together in 2007.”
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