VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES PRE-SPAIN Q&As - TEAM MANAGEMENT
Prior to the resumption of racing next weekend in Spain,
Martin Whitmarsh and Norbert Haug discuss the Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes team’s preparations for the Grand Prix at the
Circuit de Catalunya.
MARTIN WHITMARSH, CEO FORMULA 1, VODAFONE McLAREN
MERCEDES
What has the atmosphere been like within the team
during the four week break leading up to the Spanish Grand
Prix?
"The atmosphere has been positive and incredibly busy.
We’ve had both Fernando and Lewis visit the team, and
that is something that is always appreciated. But we are very
aware that this is a break in racing at which we need to make
the largest incremental improvement in car performance during
the course of the season. So we have all been working very
hard to make sure that we can realise the technical upgrades
that we are seeking to achieve on the car. This process has
been going very well and consequentially there is an extremely
positive feeling within the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team
and we are looking forward to the resumption of the racing
season in Spain next week."
What are the key technical challenges for the Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes team at the Circuit de Catalunya?
"Although the circuit has changed, and the last corner
is no longer the high speed challenge it once was, it is a
very technically demanding circuit. It is a circuit where
if you have a strong aero package with good balance and good
high speed corner performance, you can be fast there. We expect
to be in Barcelona with an incredibly competitive package,
but we are also aware that none of our competitors will have
stood still, and we have to make sure that we can improve
more than them."
The MP4-22 ran with new aero devices at the Barcelona
test this week, will these be raced in Spain?
"There is a continuous programme of aerodynamic development
on the MP4-22, and during the Barcelona test this week, we
had a more obvious one with a high mounted flap on the front
wing assembly. It is something that has been developed over
the last few months within the team. We were pleased with
the results of that test and consequentially it will be one
of the options available to our drivers during the Spanish
Grand Prix weekend."
With two Spanish drivers and Partner support from
Spain, is the Barcelona race of greater importance to the
team than in previous years?
"The Spanish Grand Prix is important personally to Fernando
and Pedro and therefore the team wants to do well for them.
In reality, as a Formula 1 team, we want to achieve success
at every race, and Barcelona is an important Grand Prix for
the whole team, and it will be a special focus for our Partners
based in Spain, Santander and Mutua Madrileña. It is
the start of the European season and we will be trying to
come away with race drivers that are happy with their results
and Partners who are pleased with our performance."
What work has taken place at the McLaren Technology
Centre with the race chassis in the break from Grands Prix?
"During the race season, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Formula 1 cars return to the McLaren Technology Centre between
most Grands Prix. The cars that returned from Bahrain will
have been completely stripped down to the very last component.
Those parts that will be reused at subsequent events will
have been fully inspected and serviced, and in the case of
a chassis for example, completely repainted. Other components
will have consumed their usable life and then as a matter
of routine parts will be replaced with parts to the same specification.
The third category of parts would be those that have been
replaced because the vehicle has been developed."
NORBERT HAUG, VICE PRESIDENT, MERCEDES-BENZ MOTORSPORT
How are the engines checked and maintained in between
two Grands Prix?
"According to the rules, the engines are sealed by the
FIA. For an external inspection, all peripheral components
such as airbox, hydraulic set, and electrical harnesses are
removed and checked between the races. In addition, we examine
the engine for leakage and analyze the oil. The combustion
chambers are checked by a so-called borescope, a kind of endoscope,
which is inserted through the sparkplug hole to examine valves,
pistons and traces at the cylinder liners. Afterwards the
engines are stored in their boxes until the next Grand Prix."
What are the challenges for the engines at Barcelona?
"Barcelona is a very demanding circuit not only for drivers
and cars, but also tough for the engines. This is due to the
very fast corners with a lot of full throttle sections and
also to the 1,000-metre long front straight where the cars
run at full throttle for 13 seconds. In total, 70 percent
of a lap will be driven under full throttle."
How many Mercedes-Benz engine technicians work at
a Grand Prix venue and what are their tasks?
"There are 12 Mercedes-Benz technicians at site; six
mechanics, two race engineers, one engineer for operating
conditions, one truck driver who is also responsible for logistics,
one electronic/IT specialist and the head of the technical
team at the race track."
What are the possibilities to improve the engine
during the season?
"After the specifications of the engine and the parts
used have been fixed, there are possibilities for improvements
to the ancillaries outside, for example the airbox, the fuel
injection and intake system, the water and oil pumps as well
as the development of fuels and lubricants".
How do the Mobil 1 lubricants contribute to the engine
development?
"Following the restrictions by the new engine rules,
the importance of fuels and lubricants has increased further.
Developing more competitive lubricants and fuels in co-operation
with our Partner ExxonMobil, we focus on further reducing
friction and optimising combustion. As everywhere in Formula
1, this is pushing the technical frontiers. These continuous
enhancements of fuels and lubricants resulted in a significant
increase of engine performance. In the medium term, also the
production engine development and the cars will benefit from
these results."
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