F1 Montr�al - Preview (VMM)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Woking, United Kingdom, Jun 04, 2010

The return of Formula 1 to North America is a very positive move for the sport. After a two-year absence, I think everybody is tremendously looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that has long been a staple of the calendar.


Jenson Button

�It�s fantastic to be going back to Montreal after a year away. I think everyone in Formula 1 loves the city, the people and the track, so it�s very fitting that we�re heading back � particularly during one of the best seasons we�ve had for years.

�Looking back at the pace of the Turkish Grand Prix, which was run pretty much flat-out from start to finish, it�s going to be interesting to see how Canada plays out. It�s an extremely fast circuit, but it isn�t a place that tolerates even the slightest mistake � because of the proximity of the concrete walls.

�The track configuration should suit the MP4-25, it�s got a couple of slowish corners that lead onto long straights, so we should be able to use the combination of the Mercedes-Benz engine and our aero package to be competitive in both qualifying and the race.

�Canada is always an unpredictable weekend � it�s a bit of a one-off, which is great for Formula 1 � and I think this year�s race has all the ingredients for a classic.�

Lewis Hamilton

�I won my first grand prix in Montreal � 2007 seems like such a long time ago, but I still have some absolutely fantastic memories of that weekend: the pole position, the crazy number of Safety Cars, the uncertainty in the final laps, and then, at last, crossing the line, which just a massive feeling of relief and amazement at the same time. It was fantastic.

�Returning for 2010 is great, because it�s such a fast, demanding and unforgiving circuit � I love racing here. It�s an incredibly tough track � even if you can avoid the walls, which are really close and exciting at some places, the surface is very treacherous offline because of all the marbles. It�s a place where you don�t want to make even a tiny mistake.

�And the city is a fantastic place too. It�s great to be heading back to North America after two years away. The people in Montreal really embrace their race and there�s a lot of support for the drivers and the teams. I can�t wait to get back there.�

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

�The return of Formula 1 to North America is a very positive move for the sport. After a two-year absence, I think everybody is tremendously looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that has long been a staple of the calendar.

�The residents of Montreal really take this race to their hearts, and there�s always a fantastic atmosphere throughout the race weekend. The circuit itself is fast and unforgiving � practically the perfect recipe for exciting, unpredictable and close racing. Additionally, I believe we return to North America with a product that is strong and healthy, with a depth of driver talent that is probably as great as any other time in the sport�s history.

�Off the back of a very strong result in Turkey, we feel that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be well suited to the characteristics of MP4-25. It�s a low-downforce track where straight-line speed is fundamental to a good laptime. Once again, we�ll be looking for another strong result before the circus returns to Europe for the rest of the summer.�

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