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F1: Later season start gives McLaren 'more time'

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is not too disappointed that the 2011 season will begin two weeks later than originally scheduled.

The early life of McLaren's radical 2011 car, the MP4-26, has been troubled, after it debuted one test late and has so far made little impression in the reliability and performance stakes.

"We are trying to understand how the car, the tires and all the systems work together. We are not yet in the position to do 140 laps a day, like Webber did," 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton is quoted by Turun Sanomat.

On Monday, it was finally confirmed officially that the Bahrain grand prix has been postponed until later this season due to the political situation in the island Kingdom.

"I am not too unhappy about the world championship only starting in Australia, because it gives us more time. We have some catching up to do and not a lot of time until the season starts," said Lewis Hamilton.

A major shareholding of Woking based McLaren is held by the Bahrain government's Mumtalakat company.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 8 years experience as a car reviewer
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