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The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team travel to Silverstone,
which is located approx. 125 kilometres from the McLaren
Technology Centre in Woking and 35 kilometres from
Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth, this week
for one of the team’s home races of 2007, the Santander
British Grand Prix.
The race marks the mid point of the
2007 Formula 1 World Championship, with a further eight Grands
Prix remaining. At this middle stage of the season, the
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team lies in first position of the
Constructors’ table with 114 points. Lewis and Fernando
continue to lead the Drivers’ standings with 64 and 50 points
respectively. This is the first time that Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes Corporate Partner Santander has been the Title
Sponsor of a Grand Prix, which is considered by Santander as a
key activity this year in their commitment to Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes and the sport.
FAST FACTS
Why is
aerodynamic efficiency key at Silverstone?
Silverstone is
renowned for its super high speed corners that populate the
first half of the circuit. These demand optimum aero
efficiency and a stable balance; this allows the drivers to
attack the fast corners and get a good lap time. In addition,
it is essential to have good mechanical grip for the latter
part of the track; so whilst the aerodynamic performance is
vital, so is a compromise with the set-up.
At the 2006
race, the lap times around Silverstone were faster despite the
use of V8 engines. Will the control Bridgestone Potenzas have
any effect on lap time this season?
At the race last year,
the cars had more grip because of the use of softer tyres, and
this meant that despite the V8 engines, lap times were faster
and the cars were quicker in the corners. The Bridgestone
Potenza tyres are not as soft this year, and as a result, the
cars carry marginally less speed through the corners,
particularly at the start of the track. However the difference
from 2006 to 2007 will not be as marked as from 2005 to 2006
lap times.
Why is the Maggots - Becketts - Chapel
sequence so renowned?
This complex is one of the most
legendary sequences in Formula 1. At the start of the track,
the S bends see the drivers flicked left through Maggots,
before an immediate right-left flick of Becketts that leads
you into Chapel. This slightly longer right hander is followed
by a sweeping left that takes you onto the long Hanger
straight. This series of high speed direction changes see the
cars pushed to their limits and the drivers put under heavy
g-force, as they try to hook up the apexes. It is one of the
best locations to watch a Formula 1 car in action.
When did motor racing arrive at Silverstone?
Silverstone was the host venue of the first race in the
history of Formula 1, which took place on 13th May 1950, The
then 4.7km track had originally been an airfield. Since 1950,
40 British Grands Prix have been hosted at Silverstone, with
Aintree and Brands Hatch running the event on five and twelve
occasions respectively. McLaren has won 13 out of the 41
British Grands Prix it has entered to date. The team has won
four of the last eight races including Juan Pablo Montoya's
maiden win for the outfit in 2005, David Coulthard’s victories
in 1999 and 2000, which was a double victory ahead of Mika
Hakkinen, and Mika’s win in 2001.
TEAM QUOTES
Fernando Alonso
"After the race at Magny Cours,
which was always going to be challenging following qualifying,
we came away with a decent result considering and we are now
focusing on a more positive weekend at the Santander British
Grand Prix. Silverstone has always been a special race for me
as it is one of the biggest Grands Prix of the year and has a
unique atmosphere. The fans have a big passion and knowledge
for the sport; and it is always a pleasure to race in front of
the British crowd. This is even more the case this year as it
will be the first time in front of lots of the Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes employees who will be attending the race; it
definitely gives extra motivation. It was a special win for me
last year; it was very competitive and tough, but that is
always the way at Silverstone. It is great fun to race here as
there are some great corners; Copse is one of the fastest we
race through. We drive it flat out; it is very quick in the
entry with a short apex and you have to get the line just
right. Because of all the speed, the car needs to have good
handling balance. The track surface is quite bumpy and this
can mean visibility is quite bad at some points of the track
and you need a good ride height. Overtaking is also possible;
probably the best places to do this are through Stowe, Vale
and Club."
Lewis Hamilton
"Without a doubt, the
Santander British Grand Prix will be the biggest race of the
year for me, as it’s my debut home race. It is going to be
another new experience, I expect the atmosphere will be
incredible and I cannot wait to race in front of my home fans.
To win at this race would be immense, but we have to be
realistic with our expectations. This is one race out of 17
and as with all the Grands Prix, I will do my best to win for
the fans, but the most important thing for them is to enjoy
the whole weekend whatever the result will be. Silverstone
always seems to have great races. I certainly had fun here
last year as you can really push the limits. That weekend with
GP2 last year is something I will never forget; the response
from the crowd was like nothing I had ever experienced before
and I can’t wait to get back out on track. The Silverstone
circuit is very different to Magny Cours due to all the high
speed corners. It still needs a set-up compromise to make sure
we have high speed stability for first section and grip for
the latter part with the slower corners such as Priory and
Brooklands. You are also under heavy loadings for much of the
lap, so it is quite tough. I hope everyone enjoys the race and
the team has a great result."
Martin Whitmarsh, CEO
Formula 1, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
"We had a mixed
weekend in France but were able to score points towards our
Championships challenges. Whilst we did not take maximum
points, we are not disheartened, there is more performance
coming to the MP4-22 and Fernando and Lewis both drove well in
France and they will continue to get more out of the package.
We are also confident that the issue with Fernando’s gearbox
was a one-off and we are working to eliminate any recurrence.
The Santander British Grand Prix is going to be a big event
for the team. The expectations of the British fans for the
team are high . Fernando, Lewis and the whole team will be
pushing hard to fight for the victory, but there are no
guarantees in this sport. We hope all the spectators enjoy the
race and that the team continues to build on its lead in both
Championships. The Silverstone circuit is traditionally pretty
tough on tyres, however we collated some useful data at the
recent test with Bridgestone which will aid our strategy
decisions regarding tyres."
Norbert Haug, Vice
President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"The Silverstone
circuit has a unique layout; there is nothing similar during
the entire Formula 1 season. Silverstone is called ‘The Home
of British Motor Racing’ and this year we will see there
spectators and more enthusiasm than ever - because of Lewis
and the performance of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes during this
season so far. We have won four out of the last eight races at
Silverstone; as well as we four out of this year’s Grands Prix
so far. However, Magny-Cours showed that there is no guarantee
of race wins. Ferrari was stronger there and this means that
we have to improve further. Silverstone will be the first of
our two races on home ground; the second will follow two weeks
later at the Nürburgring. Many of the employees in Woking,
Brixworth and Stuttgart will have the opportunity to see the
team in action and to support them. In both races we will have
more fans to keep their fingers crossed for us than in the
previous races - apart from Spain where we enjoyed the support
from Fernando’s fans. Our team will do everything to match the
high expectations."
SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX INFORMATION
| Circuit length |
5.141km / 3.194 miles |
| Race distance |
308.355km / 191.604 miles |
| Laps |
60 |
| Number of corners |
17 |
| Inaugural Grand Prix |
1950 |
VODAFONE
McLAREN MERCEDES STATISTICS
| |
Fernando |
Lewis |
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
| Race Starts |
96 |
8 |
622 |
| Race Wins |
17 |
2 |
152 |
| Pole Positions |
16 |
2 |
128 |
| Points |
431 |
64 |
3273.5 |
| Podiums |
41 |
8 |
406 |
| Fastest Laps |
10 |
1 |
133 | |
