LEWIS HAMILTON

MP4-25A-02

P3 programme

2nd                    1m37.402s (+0.048s)     16 laps

Qualifying

Q1 1st                1m37.113s (on Primes)

Q2 4th               1m36.197s (on Options)

Q3 4th               1m36.062s (on Options)

“The team made a phenomenal effort to get all the new parts to the track for this race, and everybody has done a fantastic job at the track all weekend.

“We were very quick in practice, so I don’t know where the Red Bulls found an extra half a second in Q3. Still, it’s important to remember that we’re still in the fight: we make good starts, and there are some long straights here, which should suit us.

“I feel that we’re competitive – the car is the best it’s ever been and our long runs are strong. We just need to do the best we can with what we have – we can’t ask any more of the guys back at the factory, or the guys here, and I don’t think I could have asked for any more from me.

“So, yes, we can still have a very good race tomorrow.”

JENSON BUTTON

MP4-25A-01

P3 programme

7th                    1m38.419s (+1.065s)     15 laps

Qualifying

Q1 10th             1m38.123s (on Primes)

Q2 7th               1m37.064s (on Options)

Q3 7th               1m36.731s (on Options)

“Yesterday and this morning I was very happy with the car; the balance was extremely good and we were looking strong.

“This afternoon I couldn’t get the tyres up to temperature and struggled a bit with locking fronts and rears. I didn’t have enough grip and couldn’t find enough pace.

“It’s going to be a bit tough tomorrow, whatever the weather does. But the good news is that I’ll be starting from the clean side of the grid, and there are a couple of long straights after the first corner, so it’ll be a fun first lap!”

MARTIN WHITMARSH

Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“The conditions in qualifying today were pretty challenging – low-grip Tarmac combined with low-ish track temperatures – and as a result it was difficult to get the tyres up to optimal operating temperature fast enough.

“Both our drivers drove sensibly and well to get safely through to Q3 – and, once there, we elected to give them each two single-lap runs. They both drove very good laps – but as things turned out it wasn’t easy to nail a time on a single lap.

“However, we’re very positive about tomorrow’s race. We’ve got a very good race car, with strong straight-line speed, and as a result both Jenson and Lewis will be able to drive attacking races.”