McLaren turns the big 5-0 over the Italian Grand Prix weekend, so I thought it would be a good time to look back at my own personal highlights of the team.
Of course, I only started watching Formula 1 religiously back in 2004 so my time-zone is considerably restricted. I’m sure you all have your own special highlights of the Woking based squad, whether that be from their rise to the top in the 70s, Senna vs Prost in the late 80s or Hakkinen doing the double in the late 90s.
So here I take a look at my personal highlights from what has been a very successful 50 years of competing in Formula 1.
This race may not have been the most exciting, but I remember sitting in front of my TV screen as an excited 11-year-old, completely in awe of Kimi Raikkonen’s driving. He had taken pole position on Saturday - in what was one of the laps of the season - before taking turn one easily in the lead.
The way the team took a risk and stayed out during the safety car period alongside the confidence the Finn had in the car had me completely glued to my TV screen. With barriers just millimetres away, he was driving 100% every lap but it all looked so comfortable and easy. This race proved that McLaren had a car that was worthy of winning the title, if it hadn’t been for numerous retirements and grid penalties we could have seen Raikkonen winning plenty more races in that kind of style.
I have always been a fan of Jenson Button. I have also always had a soft spot for McLaren, so you can imagine my delight when the two joined forces for the 2010 season. My highlight of McLaren in that dramatic year of racing was Button’s first race win for his new team at the Australian Grand Prix – the second race of the season. Button qualified in fourth but had a poor start – with all cars on intermediate tyres - and dropped back a few positions after contact with Alonso.
He then dropped behind team-mate Hamilton but it was his inspired move to change to dry tyres at the end of lap six that put him in contention. At first, I was worried that he would lose too much time – particularly after he went off at the third corner. However he soon started to set fastest sector times and emerged from the pit-sequence in second place, behind Vettel’s Red Bull. However he kept up with the German until he retired on lap 26. From then on, he controlled the race in stunning style to take a popular race victory in what was a dramatic race with plenty of on-track action.
I never, ever expected Lewis Hamilton to do so well on his Formula 1 debut. Prior to the 2007 season, I didn’t really know much about him as I didn’t watch GP2 and I rarely used the Internet to keep up-to-date with the latest F1 news. So going into the 2007 season, I didn’t really know what to expect. However I was well and truly stunned by his debut race after qualifying an impressive fourth and overtaking two cars – one of which being Fernando Alonso – into the first corner.
He lost out to his team-mate in the pit stops but it was a mistake-free and mature drive from Hamilton. He captivated the Formula 1 fraternity with his faultless first race, in a sport where rookie debuts are known more for off-track excursions and crashes. Winning the GP2 title is impressive, but finishing on the podium in your first Formula 1 race is in a different league.
That race was just epic, pure and simple. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, a typical fight through the field for the ‘Iceman’ after starting down in 17th place thanks to wet weather on his qualifying lap.
The Finn’s charge wasn’t helped by an off-track excursion as the chicane on lap one, but he soon started making progress. By lap 19 he had made it up to seventh place and had the best seat in the house for one of the sports best overtaking moves; Schumacher vs. Alonso at 130R. It was a brilliant move by Alonso with Raikkonen overtaking the seven time world champion a few laps later. By that time the two had passed Alonso in the pit stops.
The second stops kick started with 12 laps remaining. Giancarlo Fisichella had been leading but Raikkonen had closed in at quite a rate. He had managed to leap-frog Webber and Button in the stops and now had one target left. After a failed attempt on the previous lap, Raikkonen had a fantastic run on the Italian through the final chicane. He tucked the McLaren’s nose up in the slip-stream of the Renault and took the outside line for turn one on the last lap. They almost touched as the Finn swept into turn one with Fisichella having to back off in a stunning, jaw-dropping move to take the victory. What a way to end the race.
It was a tough race too, with mixed conditions and close racing throughout the field. Lining up fourth on the grid, Hamilton maintained his position on the first lap. It was a position that he needed to keep, any lower than fifth would give the title to Massa. Cars started on intermediate tyres but the track began to dry out and by lap 11 the whole field had pitted. Lewis emerged from his stop behind the Force India of Fisichella. It took seven laps to pass the Italian and by that time Lewis was holding the coveted fifth position.
When the second pit stops had all panned out, Hamilton was lying in fourth position but had Vettel breathing down his neck. Rain began to fall on lap 63 and drivers dived in to the pits to change to the intermediate tyre, with the exception of Glock who stayed out on dry tyres. Then Hamilton made an error that could have cost him the title. In an attempt to let Robert Kubica unlap himself, he slid wide and let Vettel through. He desperately tried to get fifth place back as he watched the title slip away, you could see it in his driving, but Vettel was too quick.
As the last lap arrived, it was looking like a second near-miss for Hamilton. There were celebrations in the Ferrari pits as Massa crossed the line to win and provisionally take the title. But wait, it wasn’t over just yet. Hamilton came across the slow Toyota of Glock, who had been tiptoeing around on dry tyres. He passed him around the outside at the final turn to move into the crucial fifth place and crossed the line to be crowned 2008 World Champion. It was a dramatic climax to a truly unforgettable season, jam-paced full of excitement, and with a McLaren driver at the top for the first time in nine years.
So those are my five highlights from McLaren’s 50 years. It is a team that I have always supported not only for where they are from but also for their professionalism, work ethic, determination and talent for producing race winning cars and hand picking some of the world’s best drivers to race them.
Check out my profile on the team here and have a read of Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh's thoughts on this very special milestone.
What are your personal highlights from McLaren’s 50 years in Formula 1? Comment below or let me know on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
Happy 50th anniversary McLaren, here’s to 50 more years of success.
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| (c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes |
Of course, I only started watching Formula 1 religiously back in 2004 so my time-zone is considerably restricted. I’m sure you all have your own special highlights of the Woking based squad, whether that be from their rise to the top in the 70s, Senna vs Prost in the late 80s or Hakkinen doing the double in the late 90s.
So here I take a look at my personal highlights from what has been a very successful 50 years of competing in Formula 1.
5) Raikkonen dominates around the streets of Monte Carlo
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| (c) McLaren-Soul |
The way the team took a risk and stayed out during the safety car period alongside the confidence the Finn had in the car had me completely glued to my TV screen. With barriers just millimetres away, he was driving 100% every lap but it all looked so comfortable and easy. This race proved that McLaren had a car that was worthy of winning the title, if it hadn’t been for numerous retirements and grid penalties we could have seen Raikkonen winning plenty more races in that kind of style.
4) Button takes his first McLaren victory
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| (c) FlynetPictures |
He then dropped behind team-mate Hamilton but it was his inspired move to change to dry tyres at the end of lap six that put him in contention. At first, I was worried that he would lose too much time – particularly after he went off at the third corner. However he soon started to set fastest sector times and emerged from the pit-sequence in second place, behind Vettel’s Red Bull. However he kept up with the German until he retired on lap 26. From then on, he controlled the race in stunning style to take a popular race victory in what was a dramatic race with plenty of on-track action.
3) Hamilton shocks on F1 debut
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| (c) F1Fanatic |
He lost out to his team-mate in the pit stops but it was a mistake-free and mature drive from Hamilton. He captivated the Formula 1 fraternity with his faultless first race, in a sport where rookie debuts are known more for off-track excursions and crashes. Winning the GP2 title is impressive, but finishing on the podium in your first Formula 1 race is in a different league.
2) Raikkonen takes a dramatic race victory at Suzuka
If I could pick my favourite moment from the 2005 Formula 1 season, it would be Kimi Raikkonen’s last lap overtake around the outside of Giancarlo Fisichella at Suzuka’s tricky turn one to take the race win. |
| (c) F1Fanatic |
The Finn’s charge wasn’t helped by an off-track excursion as the chicane on lap one, but he soon started making progress. By lap 19 he had made it up to seventh place and had the best seat in the house for one of the sports best overtaking moves; Schumacher vs. Alonso at 130R. It was a brilliant move by Alonso with Raikkonen overtaking the seven time world champion a few laps later. By that time the two had passed Alonso in the pit stops.
The second stops kick started with 12 laps remaining. Giancarlo Fisichella had been leading but Raikkonen had closed in at quite a rate. He had managed to leap-frog Webber and Button in the stops and now had one target left. After a failed attempt on the previous lap, Raikkonen had a fantastic run on the Italian through the final chicane. He tucked the McLaren’s nose up in the slip-stream of the Renault and took the outside line for turn one on the last lap. They almost touched as the Finn swept into turn one with Fisichella having to back off in a stunning, jaw-dropping move to take the victory. What a way to end the race.
1) Hamilton clinches the 2008 world championship on the final lap
This was the race where everyone held their breath. So many emotions were felt by the British fans, as well as the driver and his team, as the title was in reach, slipped away and then incredibly was taken back at the last corner of the last lap. It was a truly incredible race and one that I, alongside many other F1 fans, will never forget. |
| (c) Getty Images |
When the second pit stops had all panned out, Hamilton was lying in fourth position but had Vettel breathing down his neck. Rain began to fall on lap 63 and drivers dived in to the pits to change to the intermediate tyre, with the exception of Glock who stayed out on dry tyres. Then Hamilton made an error that could have cost him the title. In an attempt to let Robert Kubica unlap himself, he slid wide and let Vettel through. He desperately tried to get fifth place back as he watched the title slip away, you could see it in his driving, but Vettel was too quick.
As the last lap arrived, it was looking like a second near-miss for Hamilton. There were celebrations in the Ferrari pits as Massa crossed the line to win and provisionally take the title. But wait, it wasn’t over just yet. Hamilton came across the slow Toyota of Glock, who had been tiptoeing around on dry tyres. He passed him around the outside at the final turn to move into the crucial fifth place and crossed the line to be crowned 2008 World Champion. It was a dramatic climax to a truly unforgettable season, jam-paced full of excitement, and with a McLaren driver at the top for the first time in nine years.
So those are my five highlights from McLaren’s 50 years. It is a team that I have always supported not only for where they are from but also for their professionalism, work ethic, determination and talent for producing race winning cars and hand picking some of the world’s best drivers to race them.
Check out my profile on the team here and have a read of Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh's thoughts on this very special milestone.
What are your personal highlights from McLaren’s 50 years in Formula 1? Comment below or let me know on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.
Happy 50th anniversary McLaren, here’s to 50 more years of success.
1 comment:
My top Mclaren moment is when Hakkinen overtook Schumie in Spa and poor old Zonta was in the middle of the overtake - Classic :)
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