Q&A: Martin Whitmarsh

Saturday 17th May 2008

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh talks Monaco - the challenges and the glamour.

Q: Can you outline the Monaco-specific components that are required at this race to cope with its demands?
MW: The Monaco circuit has previously been quite unique in the Formula 1 calendar, until this season with the inaugural races on the street circuits of Valencia and Singapore. Monaco is the first race of the season where the circuit characteristics of a tight, twisting course with no genuine straights, lead us to run with the maximum levels of downforce that are achievable, even if in so doing there is a marginal drag penalty. This is the compromise required in order to get the fastest lap possible. It's a track that doesn't have much kerb riding, if you step off the side of the track you are generally in the Armco barriers. It's also a circuit with very inconsistent cambers, on the racing line the camber can be going away from you or helping you, and this is a result of racing on a road where the primary focus of the camber is drainage. As a result the suspension will be changed to handle this. It does not require particularly good kerb riding capability, with the exception of the chicane on the exit of the tunnel, but you do need to have sufficient compliance in the suspension that the variable cambers don't unduly unsettle the car and or the drivers. It can also be a challenging event for cooling, despite what seemingly aren't excessive temperatures. The average speed and therefore the average speed of airflow through the radiators is be lower than at other events, which makes it more difficult to dissipate heat energy from the engine and transmission."

Q: Why is Monaco seen as the jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 season?
MW: Monaco is a longstanding event, the circuit hasn't changed much over the years and there is a lot of history connected to the event. Inevitably it is a glamorous backdrop, it brings motor racing right into the heart of the Principality. It has that glamour, it brings cars close to the people, it reminds people how quick Formula 1 cars are and how brave the drivers are in a manner that is not always apparent when it is viewed from a distance behind large run off areas. The race itself is fantastic because it is so tight and so noisy, as a result the atmosphere is intense. If you get the opportunity to go up to Casino or another of the high speed parts of the circuit, even for people who have spent many years around Formula 1 cars, they are incredibly quick, incredibly tight. The precision that is needed by drivers, a few centimentres to the left of right at various points and you really are leaving part of the car behind. Another factor that adds to the spectacle is overtaking. There is a common belief that overtaking improves the spectacle, but over the years Monaco produces exciting races because the field is often very close together in a train, usually behind a much slower car. You then have the faster drivers trying to force their way through every overtaking manoeuvre, which entails a degree of risk no matter who you are passing. All these elements together lead to a highly anticipated race meeting."

Q: Are you confident there will be no repeat of the tyre issues experienced by Lewis in Turkey at Monaco?
MW: We are very confident that there will be no repeat of the tyre issues we experienced in Turkey with Lewis's car because the characteristics of the circuit are very different. The levels of aerodynamic force that are generated on the tyres and the tyre construction are much lower and therefore there is no chance we will have that problem. At Monaco as we all work towards extracting the maximum performance from the tyres and the whole of the package, this historically leads to relatively soft compounds and this can provide a durability challenge, so a different issue but not one we are concerned about given the work we have done in this area with Bridgestone."

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