Despite a number of retirements this season, McLaren are not taking the cautious approach.
With just two rounds left, and the inaugural Austin Grand Prix fast approaching, they are determined to win and do everything they can. Taking a safe strategy is not an option.
Hamilton retired from a certain win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He slowed on lap 19 with a fuel pump pressure problem. A similar problem also lost him victory in Singapore too.
These issues with the car have led to both McLaren drivers slipping out of title contention. The team have also suffered in the constructors standings, with Red Bull continuously extending the gap out front.
However McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale has said the teams approach is no different to any other race, they are going there to win and push for the best possible result.
The failure we had in Abu Dhabi was very painful but having said that we've just done 1500 trouble-free kms with the same car in the young driver test at the circuit last week, obviously we are very mindful of the constructors' championship, but we are still taking performance upgrades to this circuit and we're not taking an overtly cautious approach.
"We will be very diligent, yes. [But] our hope, our desire, is to do really well and win the race." he said to Autosport.
He also revealed that their Friday practice schedule could change to allow Hamilton and Button time to learn the tricky Austin circuit, which has a number of challenging bends and blind apexes.
"I think it will be an interesting one for drivers to have to learn on Friday, and for teams to balance time for engineering programs as well as allowing drivers to get to grips with it," he explained.
"The extra set of Friday tyres should help. It is always lovely to go new circuit, and this one in particular looks like it has been really well thought out.
"Of course I've not physically been there, but I've seen simulations and certainly the height changes in track and way some corners have been set up with blind apexes I think is going to make really exciting racing.
"I expect to see the usual suspects at the front, but I certainly hope that it is a McLaren circuit."
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Hamilton retired from a certain win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He slowed on lap 19 with a fuel pump pressure problem. A similar problem also lost him victory in Singapore too.
These issues with the car have led to both McLaren drivers slipping out of title contention. The team have also suffered in the constructors standings, with Red Bull continuously extending the gap out front.
However McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale has said the teams approach is no different to any other race, they are going there to win and push for the best possible result.
The failure we had in Abu Dhabi was very painful but having said that we've just done 1500 trouble-free kms with the same car in the young driver test at the circuit last week, obviously we are very mindful of the constructors' championship, but we are still taking performance upgrades to this circuit and we're not taking an overtly cautious approach.
"We will be very diligent, yes. [But] our hope, our desire, is to do really well and win the race." he said to Autosport.
He also revealed that their Friday practice schedule could change to allow Hamilton and Button time to learn the tricky Austin circuit, which has a number of challenging bends and blind apexes.
"I think it will be an interesting one for drivers to have to learn on Friday, and for teams to balance time for engineering programs as well as allowing drivers to get to grips with it," he explained.
"The extra set of Friday tyres should help. It is always lovely to go new circuit, and this one in particular looks like it has been really well thought out.
"Of course I've not physically been there, but I've seen simulations and certainly the height changes in track and way some corners have been set up with blind apexes I think is going to make really exciting racing.
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