OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Apr 04, 2010
Battling back!
LEWIS HAMILTON
- MP4-25A-03
- Started: 20th
- Finished: 6th
- Fastest lap: 1m37.745s (4th)
- Pitstops: one, lap 30, (Pr-Op)
- 2010 points: 31 (6th)
�I had a great start, went down the inside and got past a lot of cars on the first lap. I was able to keep going for much of the race on my first set of tyres, and even nearly got past Sebastian [Vettel] after his pitstop.
After my pitstop, I tried my best to get past Adrian [Sutil], but he was very smart at getting clean exits and was simply too fast down the straights. He drove a fantastic race, actually; faultless, in fact.
�From 20th on the grid, I think sixth was a brilliant result. I reckon we showed today that we were fast enough to compete with the guys at the very front � and, that being the case, if we�d started farther up we could�ve had an even better result this afternoon.
�Overall, then, I�m well happy with my race � I couldn�t ask for any more to be honest. The team really deserved this, and we�re now closer to the top in the constructors� championship than we were before the race. So we�ll take forward a lot of positives with us into the next race.�
JENSON BUTTON
- MP4-25A-01
- Started: 17th
- Finished: 8th
- Fastest lap: 1m38.501s (10th)
- Pitstops: one: lap 9 (Op-Pr)
- 2010 points: 35 (4th)
�My first stint was very tough. I went for the outside at the first corner � and as things turned out it wasn�t the right place to be. So I fell back, and was then stuck behind Fernando, who I just couldn�t overtake.
�I found the Option tyres quite difficult in the early laps � I had no rear grip in the high-speed stuff. I couldn�t overtake, and lost lots of time, so I took the gamble to pit early and drop back into a clear track.
�I made up a lot of ground, but I was on the Primes for so long that it became difficult to hold back cars that were two seconds a lap quicker than me.
�Felipe [Massa] eventually got past. Fernando [Alonso] tried a couple of times � the last time he went really deep into Turn One, but I managed to repass him on the exit � and then suddenly his engine was gone. I don�t know what happened to him, but we had a good fight.
�I didn�t realise that fighting for eighth was going to be so difficult! However, it�s good to get some points again.�
MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
�Given their grid positions, this afternoon we saw two markedly different yet equally impressive drives from Lewis and Jenson.
�Lewis ran long, starting on Prime tyres, and made prodigious progress in the first phase of the race thanks to a series of stunning overtaking manoeuvres. Jenson ran a contrasting strategy, starting on Options and making his pitstop early [lap nine]. Thereafter he preserved his Primes in masterly fashion, defending his position against cars whose tyres were far newer than his yet still maintaining strong lap times throughout the race.
�From our perspective, a bit of rain would have been welcome; but, given the dry weather all afternoon, the fact that we�ll leave Malaysia with 12 more constructors� championship points than we had when we arrived here is a powerful testament to the professionalism and determination that both Lewis and Jenson showed today.
�The team, too, did a fantastic job. Lewis�s pitstop was the fastest we�ve achieved all year, at a lightning-quick 3.4 seconds, so I�d like to take this opportunity to say �well done� to Pete Vale [chief mechanic], Paul James [number-one mechanic, Lewis Hamilton] and all the lads for their excellent work under significant pressure.
�Looking forward to China, there are many positives to reflect on. We now lie a close second in the constructors� world championship table, our pace was highly competitive all weekend here in Malaysia, and, with a better qualifying performance than we achieved here in Sepang, we hope to perform strongly in Shanghai.�
* Official photos and info courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *
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