Whitmarsh ponders 'doing a Honda'

Friday 10th July 2009

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has given his clearest hint yet that the team is preparing to write-off the rest of 2009 in order 'to do a Honda' and concentrate all their resources towards next season.

The team will run a series of new parts this weekend in Germany, with the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen both running different upgrades in order to compare the results of the new floor on the Englishman's charger and the alterations to the front-wing on the Finn's McLaren.

However, asked directly by the BBC if he was tempted to repeat the strategy of the Honda team, now running under the name of Brawn, who gave up on 2008 after just a few months to concentrate on 2009, Whitmarsh replied flatly:

"Yes."

Whitmarsh continued by admitting that the team was already focusing "a lot" of its work on next season, describing next year's desgin as "radically different", but said that he was intent on finding "a balance" between the duel demands of 2009 and 2010. "As a racing team that wants to win, this season has hurt and that's why we are making a big push. But we also need to put in enough effort to make sure we have a quick car next year."

Your Comments

NickUSA

"Wherever McLaren and the rest of FOTA are racing in 2010, the new car from Woking will be at top form. This is an excellent strategy for all who are at the bottom. With Lewis now at the top of the P2 timesheets, it is apparent they have now discovered the fix to their problems. I would not be surprised if both of the mods will be on both cars by the next race, if not by tomorrow and Sunday."

racingintime

"The may well be leaving if FIA holds fast then what will the new design specs be may be they should hold off a bit as Im sure Ferrari will want them to suit their team first and it seems FOTA is Ferrari's Mouth piece."

mic6ard

"UHH guys, you forget one thing, WILL there be a next season. At the way things are going, FOTA might actually be hosting their own championship. "

davratta

"I'm conflicted by this article. Trying different new parts on each car is a bold move. Either it opens two new paths for development, or it is a scatter-gun approach. I incline toward the later, since how is McLaren going to integrate these new parts into one package ? What if the new front wing doesn't work well with the new floor ? "

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