Australian GP McLaren qualifying notes

MIKA HAKKINEN 'I didn't manage to get the best out of the car today but starting behind pole position man provides us with a great opportunity to do well in the race. I clipped the grass at turn one on my second run which is what can happen when you push really hard and put the car on the limit. Turn one is extremely bumpy under braking and it's so important that you have the right set-up to give you maximum front-end grip. Unfortunately, what I believe would have been a fast run was ruined when the red flags came out.'

DAVID COULTHARD 'A really messy qualifying session! I went on the grass on my first and second runs and on my third; the red flags came out so I didn't have a reasonable lap time when I went out at the end. As you need a certain rhythm in your qualifying runs, which I didn't have, I must be content with sixth place. However having found a good balance with the car I'm confident for the race.'

RON DENNIS 'As is apparent by the comments from our drivers it was not  
a particularly smooth qualifying session for us. The potential in the   
car and the engine was there but we didn't have the opportunity to      
extract it properly. So far reliability has been very good and if it    
continues through Sunday I feel we will get a good result.'             

NORBERT HAUG 'This was certainly not our best qualifying. Mika had to   
abandon his fastest lap when the red flags came out. I have faith in    
the team being able to achieve better positions in the race than third  
and sixth.'                                                             

-McLaren