McLaren, though, have an eye on the world championship for constructors – and fifth place would not do a great deal to help overturn Ferrari’s 11-point advantage.
The team’s F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: “Clearly, we can afford to be more conservative than normal in our approach to Lewis’s race, but we are pushing to win the championship for constructors and it would be wrong to overlook that. There are still 18 points available and there’s no reason why we can’t take forward the pace and form we showed in China to achieve a one-two in Brazil.”
Ferrari had a decisive performance advantage at Interlagos last season, but Hamilton believes the situation will be different this time. After winning in Shanghai last weekend, he said: “Going to Brazil I know we will be in a much better situation compared with last year, so that is comforting. We know we have to do a good job. It will be tough and the Ferraris will be pushing us hard, but hopefully we can pull through.”
“We have a number of minor aerodynamic upgrades in the pipeline,” Whitmarsh said. “As at every race this season, we have brought something to the car.
Even if it is worth only a few hundredths in terms of lap time, it would be wrong of us to close down that option for Interlagos.”
“As a result, we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to minimise this possibility. That meant consciously turning down Lewis’s engine on the run to the flag in China, in order to give him plenty of engine life for Brazil.”
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