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What do you feel Vodafone McLaren Mercedes offers you that other Formula 1 teams can’t?
“In terms of professionalism and technology, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team gives me support for the future. I believe it is
the right team for me to switch to, to have a competitive car in the future, I don’t see a better option than Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes. I am really looking forward to the season and am really happy and motivated to be a part of this new team.”
What does it mean to be introducing your new team to your fans in your home country?
“It is really important for me. I have a lot of fantastic support from the Spanish people and for me to be in this new project
starting from Valencia in my home country will be something special for sure. I have very special feelings and emotions today and I
am hoping it will be the start of a fantastic season.”
Will the demonstration run in Valencia be the first time you have driven a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car?
“The demonstration run around the Cuidad de las Artes y de la Ciencias will be the second time I have driven with the team,
following my one day test in December at Jerez. However this will be the first time I have driven for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in
the team’s livery with all the sponsors, so it will be an exciting time. Being in my home country, the first time in public with my
new team and also on the streets taking the cars so close to the fans will be a great day.”
Lewis Hamilton
How does it feel to be officially launched as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver alongside your teammates and car that you
will compete with in 2007?
“The feeling is indescribable. Growing up I always dreamed of racing for McLaren and now, I am. The thought of racing and working
with my teammates is a great feeling, to be driving a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is literally a surreal feeling. I am extremely
thankful to my family as without their unwavering support and hard work I would not be here in this position. I am tremendously
grateful to Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh, and Norbert Haug for the long-term support and guidance they have given me for so many
years and for this wonderful opportunity.”
When did you first dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver, and did you then imagine it would be with one of the leading teams
within the sport?
“It is difficult to be sure but like most kids, I am sure I dreamt of one day racing with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Now my
dream has literally turned into a reality and I am driving not only in Formula 1 but also for the same team as Ayrton and Alain did.
I worked hard to make it to Formula 1 but never imagined it would actually be with a team such as McLaren and in my first year!”
2006 was an incredibly successful year for you, how will 2007 continue this personal high?
“2006 was a fantastic year, a year in which everything I had learned through karting, Formula Renault and Formula 3 all came
together in GP2. I learned a great deal in GP2 and thank Frederic Vasseur and everyone at ART for their support. At the end of each
year, I sit down with my manager and we review and evaluate the year and come up with a plan for the following year. 2007 will be no
different to any other year. Once I have a plan, I always follow it to the end. I know I have to work harder to be stronger mentally
and physically and to prepare myself for whatever may come my way in Formula 1, but am ready and relishing the challenge.”
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro, what does it mean to you to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in your home country?
“It is extremely special to be launching the new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in my country for two reasons: first, because I
am Spanish and it is a honour that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have chosen my home country in front of my people. Second, because we
are launching the team with Fernando, a fellow Spaniard and World Champion for whom I have a great respect.”
How are you looking forward to working with Fernando and Lewis?
“Fernando is the first World Champion I have ever worked with. That, for me, is already a huge extra motivation. With Lewis we
have already worked together in 2006 and get on well.”
Gary Paffett
What are you thoughts on the MP4-22?
“I haven't seen much of it yet but it sounds very promising. Over the winter testing we seem to have a stronger package than we
did this time last year so I can't wait to see what the MP4-22 can give us.”
How have preparations been progressing with the MP4-22 at the McLaren Technology Centre and Mercedes-Benz
HighPerformanceEngines?
“We have been doing a massive amount of simulation work at the McLaren Technology Centre since the middle of last year, and we
feel the development is going really well. HPE have a good understanding of the V8 engine and they seem to be making some fairly big
steps forward.”
MARTIN WHITMARSH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, McLAREN GROUP
What are your expectations for the 2007 Formula 1 season?
“Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has the expectation of winning each and every year. Inevitably people can look at our performance last
season and be able to criticise us and frankly, we didn’t do a good enough job. My feeling, having been at this point of the season
on many occasions before, is highly optimistic for 2007. We are devoid of the tyre competition that we have had in recent years;
however we are very happy with our relationship with Bridgestone and their technical approach. We have been working hard on the
engineering package and believe we have made good progress to improve our performance.
Meanwhile we have what we believe to be the most exciting driver line-up in Formula 1 for many years. Fernando is obviously a
very proven product and an extraordinary double World Champion. He is still a very young and ambitious driver who wants to win many
World Championships with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. His arrival in the team has been highly motivational.
Alongside Fernando we have the excitement of the debut year for Lewis. We have of course worked with Lewis for a decade so he is
very well known to the team. His level of preparation and commitment is unprecedented. He has not only excelled, but exceeded our
expectations with all the challenges that we have set him to reach this point. We must be a little cautious and control our
enthusiasm because Formula 1 is a very challenging environment, but in time we have little doubt that Lewis will be a winning driver
in the sport.
In the meanwhile we have the stability of two great test drivers in our organisation with Pedro and Gary. They’ve both been an
inspiration to the team, with their professionalism and motivation throughout 2006. Their commitment to contributing to the
programme is unwavering and we are delighted to have their continuity and experience to support Fernando and Lewis.”
This must be an exciting time for the team with two new drivers and a new Title Sponsor, can you explain what it means to be
launching the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team today?
“The launch of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is the culmination of more than a years work from our Marketing colleagues, and
it obviously represents an important milestone for our organisation. The nature and structure of the Formula 1 team requires strong
Partners to be involved, and with a Title Sponsor with the calibre, energy and breadth of Vodafone, it is a commercially exciting
time for the team. Everyone involved in motor racing has the ambition of winning in Formula 1 and has great passion to do so.
Therefore with the coming of each season, we look forward to the fresh challenges with anticipation. Vodafone is a highly successful
company that wants to win, which is our mission and that of Mercedes-Benz. So we have the three principal Partners in the
organisation sharing the same vision. This means we will all, from time to time, put pressure on each other, but that is a useful
and stimulating force. In addition to Vodafone, we must also recognise the vital role played by the entire world class Partner group
of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team. The support we receive is invaluable and we look forward to what we hope will be a
competitive season together in 2007.” | 
