0:08 - McLaren Criticise Racing Point’s “Copying” Model 1:15 - Hamilton Isn’t Too Worried About Competition
2:18 - Fast Feed
McLaren Criticise Racing Point’s “Copying” Model
Racing Point’s 2020 car has drawn a lot of attention, a lot of which has been negative, for being too similar to Mercedes’ championship winning 2019 car. McLaren has become the latest source of some negative rebuttal.
McLaren technical director James Key revealed the difference in philosophies between the two teams.
“The last thing you want to do is copying your neighbour because you want to be out-developing him with better ideas.”
“The pictures [of Racing Point] tell the stories of these things and there’s been a lot of discussion, but from our side we are much more concentrated on ourselves.”
He further revealed that they still have to observe everything that Racing Point are doing, despite their difference in opinions.
“Of course we have got to keep an eye on the competition and we can see Racing Point has clearly taken an enormous leap in performance, think we’d been silly not to recognise that and acknowledge it."
“What makes F1 unique is its teams versus teams as well as drivers versus drivers. And as an engineer you want to be the best on the grid at your particular discipline, that’s what motivates a lot of people, it’s certainly what motivates me."
Hamilton Isn’t Too Worried About Competition
2020 is the last year of the current regulations and if history is anything to go by, the field will be bunched up a lot closer. This will make the task of defending his championship all the more difficult for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
However, Hamilton does not see it as any different from any of the previous years that he has spent racing.
“I've had a target on my back since the day I won my first championship when I was 10 years old so it's nothing new to me.”
“I've always been the only black driver there, I've always been generally at the front of the championships, so it's no different to any of the other 27 years of driving – so I'm quite comfortable in that space.”
He also regards it a matter of pride that his competitors are pushing themselves really hard to stop him from winning
“It's also a positive when people are targeting you and looking to try and beat you because you want everyone to bring their ‘A-Game’, so if we do manage to pull it off and finish ahead, it feels even better.”
2020 could be a landmark year for the Brit as he can become the most prolific race driver in F1 in terms of wins while also equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of 7 world championships.
Fast Feed
- Motorsport Mario Andretti has been "a fan from the start with how” Red Bull’s Max Verstappen “approaches racing"
- Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto revealed that they will use “team orders to the benefit of the entire team” with the condition that “it has to be a clear situation”
- Former F1 world champion Jenson Button will “be surprised if Lewis changes teams”
- Lewis Hamilton feels that “if Formula 1” becomes “'FE1' at some stage” that “its got a really bright future"
- McLaren’s team principal Andreas Seidl wants the budget cap from 2021 to be “properly policed” by the FIA so that big teams do not go around the regulations by using smaller teams to spend more
- The FIA has released a statement announcing that they “will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming competitions and take any action required to help protect the global motor sport community and the wider public, including the postponement of competitions where necessary”
- The FIA’s World Motorsport Council also confirmed that “a change to the 2020 Sporting Regulations was approved to allow for unrestricted variations to driver helmet designs between races”
- Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff spoke about the depth of the talent pool in F1 currently and believes that they “will not run out of talent” as long as they keep making the fastest cars
- Williams deputy team principle Claire Williams revealed that team spirit in Williams is “there more than” she has “ever seen it before”
- McLaren’s Lando Norris feels that “maybe Racing Point will be slightly towards the head” of the midfield but he hopes that they “can regain control and go from there”
- The organizers of Formula E have confirmed that “as a consequence of the ongoing health emergency in Italy” the Rome ePrix has been postponed
- The World Motor Sport Council has “strongly opposed any comments that undermine the reputation and image of the FIA and the Formula One World Championship” after seven teams opposed the confidential settlement between the FIA and Ferrari
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