Canadian GP McLaren qualifying notes

West McLaren Mercedes driver David Coulthard will start tomorrow's Canadian Grand Prix from third position after setting a time of 1:16.423 in today's qualifying session. Mika Hakkinen damaged the car during his first run and had to use the spare car, which was set up for David. His quickest time of 1:16.979 means he will start the race from eighth position.

David Coulthard
'I'm not happy with qualifying third, as the car was capable of more. However I didn't manage to get things right and explore the limits of the car. In my first run, I made a mistake at the last chicane and the session just continued to be really messy. For my last run, I was able to get out first but was only able to improve in the last sector which was enough to move me up to third. In the circumstances, I guess we have to be happy. I'm confident that we have a good car for the race, but that said I should have been able to start from the front row.'

Mika Hakkinen
'It's clear from the sector times that my first run started quite well. However I ran a little wide and hit one of new higher kerbs hard and damaged the front of my car as well as the right radiator. I had to change to the spare car, which was set up for David and was unable to improve my time. Now we will work hard to get the best out of the car for tomorrow which I'm sure we will.'

Ron Dennis
'A very disrupted qualifying session with both drivers struggling to get clear and uninterrupted laps. The sector times demonstrated the capability of the cars. Let's hope we can put them to better use in the race.'

Norbert Haug
'Mika had to change to the spare car after he had damaged his radiator and was unable to improve his time. David's third place is not so bad a basis for the race but we are not happy with our performance. We have won races from lower grid positions.'

- McLaren