F1 Hockenheim - SAT - Qualifying - Jenson Button 5th, Lewis Hamilton 6th

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Hockenheim, Germany, Jul 24, 2010

Locking out the third row at Hockenheim

JENSON BUTTON
- MP4-25A-03
- P3 programme: 13th, 1m17.037s (+1.934s), 15 laps
- Qualifying:
- Q1: 7th, 1m15.823s (on Primes)
- Q2: 7th, 1m14.716s (on Options)
- Q3: 5th, 1m14.427s (on Options)

�It took a little bit of time for us to get used to the balance of the car this weekend. I was pretty happy with my final lap, so I don�t know where the extra seven tenths (to pole) is. And that�s the slightly worrying thing: it was a good lap, and I don�t really think there was anything else I could�ve got out of the car.


�But we�ve definitely made a step forward with the blown diffuser - it�s still not quite enough in qualifying spec, but, hopefully, we�ll see some more performance tomorrow. From fifth on the grid, we can still have a good race, and this is a fun place to go racing.

�The first lap is usually pretty hectic, so I�ll be hoping to pass some cars early on. I definitely think we can get a great result tomorrow.�

LEWIS HAMILTON
- MP4-25A-04
- P3 programme: 6th, 1m16.207s (+1.104s), 13 laps
- Qualifying:
- Q1: 5th, 1m15.505s (on Primes)
- Q2: 5th, 1m14.488s (on Options)
- Q3: 6th, 1m14.566s (on Options)

�My qualifying pace wasn�t great today - there was definitely a bit more time to be gained somewhere. I did the best job I could - it�s just that the two teams in front did a slightly better job.

�We�re the fastest down the straights, but we don�t have quite enough downforce at the moment. We�ll keep on pushing, but we know we have more work to do. Still, I think there�ll be an improvement in our performance relative to the others tomorrow, because our race pace is generally better than our qualifying pace.

�Hopefully, the weather will be good, too, so we can push the guys in front and try and make up some places.�

MARTIN WHITMARSH
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

�No-one at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is ever going to be fully satisfied by a qualifying session that results in our cars qualifying only fifth and sixth - but we have reason to be confident that our race pace will be stronger.

�Our straight-line speed is impressive - perhaps more than we needed for an optimal qualifying set-up - but it�s likely to pay dividends tomorrow. As ever, both Jenson and Lewis will be looking to make up places early on, and thereafter they�ll approach the race with their usual combination of combative ambition and disciplined adherence to a race strategy that we hope will bag them another decent haul of world championship points.

�And, having scored 149 points out of a possible 172 in the past four races, we�re focusing on maintaining our consistency above all else.�

































* Official photos and info courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

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