McLaren Seek Change in Fortunes

After just one win in the last seven races, the declining force of the McLaren Mercedes-Benz team travel to their home British Grand Prix at Silverstone in desperate need of a change in fortunes.

The once-mighty Anglo-German outfit last triumphed in mid-May at the Austrian Grand Prix, and their only other win this year came in Brazil in April.

Meanwhile, Ferrari have pulled 52 points clear in the Constructors' Championship, Michael Schumacher leads the Driver's Championship from McLaren's David Coulthard by 31 points, while Williams-BMW have emerged as a potent race-winning threat.

But as many of their followers grow concerned at Finnish former champion Mika Hakkinen's wretched run of luck and Briton Coulthard's bold, but vain, attempts to stem the tide of Schumacher's successes, the team remained calm on Sunday.

"At times like this, it's important to remember that through thick and thin we are a team and we all make mistakes," McLaren chief Ron Dennis said. "The championships are not over and we will immediately start to focus on our home Grand Prix at Silverstone."

At Sunday's disappointing French Grand Prix, Coulthard collected a 10-second stop-go penalty for speeding in the pitlane and, as a result, lost his chance of a podium finish while Hakkinen failed to start because of a gearbox problem.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed, but these things happen. It just seems they are happening to me more this season," said Hakkinen, about whom rumours of retirement have circulated following the birth of his first child and a sense that he is no longer delivering the same commitment he did in his championship years of 1998 and 1999.

Mercedes-Benz sporting director Norbert Haug, like Dennis, attempted to rally the team and keep spirits up as they plan ahead to two critical races, the British Grand Prix on July 15 and the German one on July 29.

Little Mistake

Looking back on Sunday's race at Magny Cours, Haug stressed that he felt McLaren had been fast enough to win it.

"We were on the pace and David showed it," he said. "He made a little mistake, but it was very close. He was speeding at only five kilometres per hour too much. Ralf Schumacher made a mistake at the last race with the white line and this time it was David's turn.

"Otherwise, he would have been in a position to fight for the first places and maybe victory. Our pit-stops were extremely good so we could have done it."

And Haug offered some encouragement to Hakkinen that his luck could change.

"One guy (Hakkinen) scores four points in the first half of the season and then the same guy gets it all in the second half of the season," he suggested. "I would be pleased for Mika if he could get a couple of wins, but it is not realistic. We will see what we can do, and if we can generate enough speed then I think we can win races.

"People can make their judgements, but if he wins the next race then it changes. He has had a problem in some races this season and he needs a little luck and he will be back to normal."