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| © McLaren |
The Canadian Grand Prix marked a significant milestone for McLaren as it was its 300th start with three of its partners.
The British team has been working with ExxonMobil, Enkei and engine-suppliers Mercedes since the 1995 Brazilian Grand Prix and has won four world championships, registered 72 race victories, 20 one-two finishes and 70 pole positions since then.
“I can easily envisage another 300 races with ExxonMobil, Mercedes-Benz and Enkei. They’re racers, just like us, and they’re just as committed to winning,” said McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale.
With Mercedes powered-units, McLaren has registered more than 40 percent of its wins in Formula 1.
“The margins are so tight in Formula 1 nowadays that the difference between winning and losing can be measured in fractions of a second," Lewis Hamilton said. "Every part of the team works hard to find even the smallest advantage because it’s always worthwhile.
"When I won the drivers’ championship in 2008, on the last corner of the last lap, it was because everybody played their part," he added.
Mercedes' reliability record with McLaren has been impeccable.
"I’m only allowed eight engines per season, but ever since I started in Formula 1 I’ve never retired from a race with engine failure. That’s 96 races. Long may it continue,” Hamilton pointed out.
The 27-year-old marked the milestone with a win in Montreal, a welcome result for the outfit, as observed by team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
“A hat-trick of Canadian Grand Prix wins for McLaren (2010, 2011, 2012)! Five wins out of the past seven Canadian GPs for McLaren (2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012)! The 13th Canadian GP win in our history - more than any other team! A third Canadian GP win for Lewis (2007, 2010, 2012)! And Lewis is now leading the drivers’ world championship! And all of that in the historic 300th Grand Prix of the McLaren-Mobil1-Mercedes-Enkei partnership!" Whitmarsh noted.