The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : McLaren looks ahead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 16, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

McLaren looks ahead

Istanbul: McLaren can take comfort from a Turkish Grand Prix performance that left it closer to rival Ferrari than it has been since last season. Now, if only some good luck would follow.

Since Lewis Hamilton’s season-opening victory at the Australian Grand Prix, the British team has experienced an array of problems, technical and driver-related, that sent its Formula One championship hunt veering off course.

Hamilton was forced into a three-stop strategy at the Istanbul Speed Park when his tyres were compromised due to his distinct driving style.

The British driver overtook champion Felipe Massa on the 24th lap, but couldn’t make up the difference in the end.

Hamilton called it his best performance to date.

‘The real positive thing that comes from here is that we could clearly have beaten Ferrari,” McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh said.

Even though Massa won for the third straight year in Turkey to earn Ferrari’s fourth victory in five races, and sixth in seven going back to last season, the Italians are wary of their main rival.“I really think we have closed the gap to Ferrari,” Hamilton said. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport