Question: After the hiccups of 2007, this season must feel like a stroll in the park…
Ron Dennis: Last year, McLaren won eight Grands Prix, and the combined total of the world championship points scored in the world drivers’ championship by Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso exceeded the combined total scored by any other team’s two drivers. That statistic is something that people who like to describe 2007 as a bad year for McLaren would do well to remember. Having said that, of course, 2007 was a year of downs as well as ups, but that’s all in the past now. McLaren, Ferrari and the FIA have all drawn a line under the events of 2007, and relations between those three entities have never been more cordial than they are today. This year is also shaping up to be a good year for us, with five victories so far. But we never underestimate our opposition, and we’re looking forward to an exciting, sporting and close-fought battle for championship honours as we move into the final third of the season.
Question: Last year Fernando questioned the McLaren drivers’ pecking order, blaming the team for failing to concentrate all its efforts on him, saying that Lewis was at that time too young and inexperienced to realize his chances for the title. Have you learned something from last year’s situation?
Ron Dennis: Fernando said a lot of things last year, and so did many other people, and most of it was said in the heat of battle. That’s inevitable. That’s racing. You never stop learning in this sport, and that applies to everyone - including me. As for Lewis, he drove brilliantly last year and he’s driving brilliantly this year.
Question: Was the decision to extend Heikki Kovalainen’s contract inspired by the thinking that he is the perfect back-up for Lewis Hamilton?
Ron Dennis: No. Heikki is doing a fabulous job this year - as his recent victory at the Hungaroring showed only too clearly. His qualifying pace has been extremely strong all year, and his race pace is improving all the time. He’s a pleasure to have in our team, and he and Lewis have a very good relationship with each other. I’d describe them as competitive and co-operative in equal measure, which is exactly what every team wants from its driver line-up. That being the case, it was never in any doubt that we’d take up the option on Heikki’s services, and we’re delighted to have been able to knock the silly-season speculation on the head by announcing our 2009 driver line-up so early. To repeat, then: Heikki is doing a very good job for us this year, and he’ll continue to do a very good job for us next year.
