Norbert Haug: Mixed results so far
The British Grand Prix marks the end of the first half of the season with a total of 18 races. What is your half-term report?
“It’s mixed. It is clear, that we as a team would have had the opportunity to score more than the current 58 points in the Constructors’ Championship. Twice in eight races we were able to set highlights with Lewis’s victories, in the first race in Melbourne and in the probably most noticed race of the year in Monaco. Everything is still open, before we enter the next 10 races following the first eight."
Don’t you think that this is wishful thinking and that in the end Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will not struggle?
“I see this differently. If you have scored on average third places and six points in the first eight races you now are top of the ranking. The current leader Felipe Massa experienced two non-scoring rounds in the first two races and came back strongly. Without his own fault, Heikki lost at least as many points as he currently has – caused by a Safety Car period, by his accident in Spain, by starting last instead of fourth in Monaco etc. It is obvious that in the last two races Lewis had the speed to score a lot more than zero points. The first eight races were hard fought and offered best sport with four different winners and four different overall leaders. From our drivers current position in the point standings championships have been won in the past. Consequently we believe in our chance, with a faultless performance we have everything in our own hands."
What does the Santander Grand Prix mean for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes?
“Silverstone is the first of two consecutive home races. Great Britain as well as Germany are enormously important markets for our title partner Vodafone and for Mercedes-Benz. The race in Silverstone is sold out, which we feel our team and particularly Lewis Hamilton have something to do with. I have great respect for the circuit and for the drivers’ performance at Silverstone. The layout is unique, only in Monza and Spa the average speeds are higher than at Silverstone. Of course, many of our colleagues of McLaren in Woking and Mercedes-Benz HPE in Brixworth, some with their relatives, will be there to keep their fingers crossed for the race team. All of them would certainly prefer a victory even more than a pay rise and everybody in the race team works hard for this chance."