Hamilton expects no points in Australia

[fasteddy]

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde    Thursday, March 26th 2009, 09:27 GMT

Lewis HamiltonWorld champion Lewis Hamilton says he is unlikely to score any points at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix following his McLaren team's problems during testing.

"I think if we think optimistically then we can get a point," Hamilton told reporters in Melbourne. "But I don't think so, somehow.

"We have to stay positive, and anything can happen, and we can get some points - last year only seven cars finished the race so anything is possible ? but in terms of true pace at the moment I don't think we are quick enough. But we will see tomorrow.

"Heikki (Kovalainen) made some improvements on the last two days of the test, and I haven't driven the car since then, so with some new bits added to the car maybe we are a bit faster than I think."

McLaren admitted ahead of the start of the season that its car was lacking downforce and that it was not as fast as it was hoping.

Hamilton said the MP4-24 felt like it needed a lot more work before it's quick.

"Well, it wasn't great," he said of the car. "I feel it is a work in progress but we have a long way to go."

The Briton is adamant, however, that McLaren can recover as the season progresses.

"For sure, we have all taken it personally," added Hamilton. "It is affecting all of us in the team. But the fact is that we are a strong team, we've been through serious ups and downs over the last two years since I've been here. And there is nothing we can't fix and nothing we can't conquer.

"We will keep our heads high ? and there will possibly be some bad results, as there are every year, and we just have to make sure that when the car is right that we maximise and score really good points. I do feel that we will catch up ? just not right this second."

He added: "There is a huge amount of intelligent and talented people around us who have now seen what the problem is, although it is a little bit late in finding out the problem, now they are working as hard as they can to fix the problem we have and improve the car.

"This is a very, very strong team and if anyone can do it, we can. I hope!"

[fasteddy]

Hamilton: McLaren making progress

By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer    Friday, March 27th 2009, 08:03 GMT

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Melbourne practice 2009Lewis Hamilton is confident that McLaren is starting to make progress, despite languishing a long way down the order in the opening free practice sessions in Melbourne.

The reigning world champion was only 16th in the first session, and 18th later on - although his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen gave the struggling squad some encouragement with fifth place in the morning.

"My day was not too bad," said Hamilton. "It's great to be back. We're not as quick as we would love to be, but we are working very hard.

"We got through quite a programme and made some decent steps for us. We don't know what anyone else is doing on track, but we're happy with what we have done today."

Hamilton had complained over the radio of severe bottoming during the session, and he confirmed that had been an issue on long runs.

"It is a very bumpy track, at that time we were a bit too low, but that happens when on heavy fuel," he said.

The Briton could not pinpoint any particular issue that was responsible for McLaren's lack of speed, but did feel that the team was in better shape than it had been in the last major pre-season test.

"In general, it's just a general lack of grip everywhere, it is not one particular area of the corners," Hamilton explained. "We cannot carry the speed through corners we would like.

"We are working very, very hard. We've made some steps forward, the gap to the others is not as big as it was at Barcelona. But there is no quick fix, it is going to take time."

[fasteddy]

Hamilton to start from back of the grid

By Jonathan Noble    Saturday, March 28th 2009, 08:51 GMT

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid at the Australian Grand Prix following a gearbox change.

The Briton was unable to complete a single lap in Q2 after being hit by a gearbox failure at the end of the first qualifying segment.

Although McLaren could have changed the gears and avoid a penalty, the team has decided to replace the gearbox altogether, meaning Hamilton will get a grid penalty.

"It was a gear failure and although we are allowed to change gears under the regulations, we will change the gearbox," said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Under the current rules, gearboxes must last for four grands prix.