Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

Formula 1
Belgian GP
McLaren to finally trial 'Macarena-style' rear wing in Hungarian GP practice

Palou still unstoppable as Nashville win edges him closer to fifth IndyCar title

Feature
IndyCar
Nashville
Palou still unstoppable as Nashville win edges him closer to fifth IndyCar title

F1 juniors shine in F2 2026 title fight

FIA F2
Spa-Francorchamps
F1 juniors shine in F2 2026 title fight

Is the 2026 WRC title fight the most unpredictable in a generation?

Feature
WRC
Rally Estonia
Is the 2026 WRC title fight the most unpredictable in a generation?

The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

Formula 1
The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future

Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future

Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

The expectation on Aston Martin's shoulders as it prepares to debut its Hungarian GP updates

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
The expectation on Aston Martin's shoulders as it prepares to debut its Hungarian GP updates

China Preview Quotes: McLaren

Kimi Raikkonen: "I am hoping for a less eventful race this weekend in China! However, I am prepared to battle together with the team as much as we did in Japan, and more if necessary, to get the result we need. It is going to be an exciting race and we will all do what we can to take the title

"I enjoyed driving at Shanghai last year, as it has a good mix of challenges, such as the really long straight with overtaking opportunities at each end, which saw some interesting racing. The track is generally very wide, however there are some places where it narrows down, including through the long turn one, which gets tighter and tighter. Following the Japanese race, I flew to Tokyo for a couple of days, and will travel to Shanghai on Thursday."

Juan Pablo Montoya: "Following Japan, I hope I am able to have a more productive race in China to help try and win the Constructors' title with Team McLaren Mercedes. The MP4-20s are still awesome and with the team, I want to be able to make the most of that. The Shanghai International Circuit has a little bit of everything.

"I always like Tilke circuits; they seem to suit my driving style. The long back straight, where we reach over 330km/h, has a hairpin at the end, which is a great place to pass. Turn four is also fun, you need to get a good exit to get a good lap time, and it immediately goes into turn five, which is very long and you pull lots of g forces. I arrived in Shanghai on Monday and have spent my time relaxing in preparation for the race."

Pedro de la Rosa: "This is the first time I will have driven at Shanghai and I am looking forward to it. Particularly as we are going into the race still fighting for the Championship. As is always the case, my work will focus on tyre selection with Michelin."

Martin Whitmarsh: "Team McLaren Mercedes is determined to leave China as World Champions and we will fight hard as a team towards this aim. The 2005 Formula One season has been one of the most exciting for years, great for the sport and the fans. For the Constructors' Championship to be taken to the final race can only add to that, even though it does not help our nerves! The work put in across the team has been phenomenal, we have done what we can and now we will have to wait and see what happens."

Norbert Haug: "Last year, Shanghai saw an exciting inaugural race with the top-three drivers finishing the race less than 1.5 seconds apart. Obviously, this time the focus will be on the fight for the Constructors' title as Renault and ourselves are separated by just two points. Going into the last race of a remarkable Formula One season having won ten of the last 13 races we participated in, everybody at Team McLaren Mercedes will be fully concentrated on scoring more points than our competitor - this would be the best reward for all team members."

Previous article Grapevine: Alesi-McLaren Rumours Mounting
Next article Weber: Schumacher May Retire After 2008

Top Comments