Italian GP McLaren notes

McLaren Race Day ================

Race Day Italy --------------

The Marlboro McLaren Mercedes team celebrated its first podium finish of the season at the end of the 1995 Italian Grand Prix as Mika Hakkinen crossed the line in second place. This was supported by Mark Blundell's superb drive to fourth position, less than four seconds from the podium, which enabled the team to add nine points to its Constructors' Championship tally. Both Marlboro McLaren Merceds drivers benefited from the high numbers of retirements which characterised the race, but this result confirmed the reliability of the Mercedes engine, and represented a reward for the hard work put in by everybody in the team.

Mika Hakkinen:

"Our reliability problem has now been solved and the McLaren Mercedes personnel have done an extremely good job to develop the engine and make the driver trust that he can push hard throughout the race. I can say that there is much more to come and I am looking forward to the rest of the season".

Mark Blundell:

"I am very pleased for the team with both cars finishing in the top six. This is a fantastic result. I was slightly disappointed with the balance of my car on full fuel load, which was hampering my progress but as the fuel load lightened, the balance was good and so was the performance of the car. This is my best result this season so far, so I am over the moon.

Norbert Haug:

"I am happy today with our result. Some of our competitors helped us along. We scored nine points and are now fourth in the Constructors' Championship, so I am looking forward to the next rounds. Thanks to the team, to the engineers, the engine technicians and especially thanks to both drivers who did not make any mistakes in a very difficult race and ran within a few tenths of the fastest lap".

Ron Dennis:

"Of course it is very good to have a result like this, irrespective of the circumstances. We will be more competitive in the next Grand Prix and that is what we should look forward to".