F1: We Go Racing To Win, Says Whitmarsh

Formula 1

F1: We Go Racing To Win, Says Whitmarsh

Martin Whitmarsh is excited about the possibilities as McLaren unveils its MP4-28 car...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted January 31, 2013 Woking (UK)

McLaren launched its new car, the MP4-28, on Thursday morning. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh was in a bullish mood Thursday morning as McLaren launched its new car, the MP4-28, and is adamant that the team will overcome the issues that saw it miss out on a title challenge last year.

“For 2013, of course, we go racing to win,” said Whitmarsh. “With Jenson (Button) and Checo (Sergio Perez), and this fantastic-looking new car, I believe we’re extremely well-prepared for another competitive season. Jenson is driving better than ever – he’s the most experienced driver in Formula One, but he makes every ounce of that experience count: he’s peerless in his ability to read a race and one of the very fastest drivers out there. He’s a consummate professional, too, and will revel in working hard to drive this team through the year.

“Checo joins us after a sensational 2012 season, and he’s immediately proved that he’s intelligent, modest, hard-working and, make no mistake; very, very quick. Of course, there’ll be a learning curve to overcome as he gets used to our organization, particularly during the hustle and bustle of the early-season race weekends, but he understands that we are placing no pressure on him.

“This is an exciting time for the whole team. In our 50th anniversary season, I want Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to underline why we are the finest Grand Prix team in the world.”

Thursday's launch was opened by a parade of classic McLaren cars to mark the anniversary.

“The launch of a new Formula One car is always an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking occasion,” said Whitmarsh. “Today’s parade of some of our greatest and most significant cars was a thrilling way to kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations and also our 2013 campaign – but it’s a reminder of the tremendous responsibility everyone within the McLaren Technology Center shares to uphold the legacy began by Bruce McLaren and taken on by Teddy Mayer and Ron Dennis.
“It’s fully appropriate that the echoes of the past should be made to reverberate around the glass walls of a thoroughly modern building like the McLaren Technology Center. Equally, however, we’ve never lost sight of the fact that we’ll always be linked to that fearless band of enterprising pioneers who came together to form Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. in the autumn of 1963.

“Like Bruce and his closest friends, we still have the belief that we can go out into the world, risk everything and emerge victorious. That, ultimately, is the spirit that drives this organization.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 28th season as a racing journalist in 2012. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.