“Midway through 2011 it was phenomenal, it was at the highest level and on top
of that it almost never broke down.
“By contrast, when we had the same reliability, we lacked the same
performance.”
McLaren launch their 2012 challenger on Feb 1 before winter testing begins in
Jerez on Feb 7. Only then will it start to become apparent whether
Hamilton’s optimism is justified.
Fans could be forgiven for taking Hamilton’s upbeat assessment with a pinch of
salt. Drivers are practically obliged to talk up their prospects over the
winter.
Indeed both Hamilton and team-mate Jenson
Button were optimistic at the launch of the MP4-26 in Berlin 12
months ago, only for the car’s ambitious exhaust system to be ditched on the
eve of the season after it became clear that McLaren were two seconds off
Red Bull’s pace.
“During the winter you always dream of arriving at the start of the season
with a car that goes quick immediately,” Hamilton said. “This hasn’t
happened in the last two seasons. I want it to happen this year.
“If we start well, we’ll stay at the top more easily.”
The Stevenage-born driver also commented on his rivalry with Button, who
became the first of Hamilton’s Formula One team-mates to beat him over the
course of a season in 2011, making particular mention of the fact that his
compatriot had got the team working well for him since his arrival at the
start of 2010.
“Jenson is very quick and he’s gathered a strong team of technicians around
him,” Hamilton noted. “I’d like to be ahead of him all the time, and I’m not
happy if the opposite happens.
“However, psychologically it’s absolutely not a problem. Besides, he’s an open
and cheerful guy who I get along with. It would be nice to fight for the
2012 championship with him: that’s just up to McLaren.”