Mercedes chief Haug says no favourites in McLaren team

Jun 6, 2007, 13:22 GMT

Montreal, Canada - McLaren-Mercedes have 'two favourite drivers' with neither world champion Fernando Alonso nor British newcomer Lewis Hamilton enjoying a preference in the team, according to Mercedes sports chief Norbert Haug.

'The order is whatever you like, as long as one of the two is ahead at the end, Fernando or Lewis - we have two favourite drivers in our team,' Haug told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The two McLaren drivers go into Sunday's Canada Grand Prix in Montreal - the sixth race of the season - leading the drivers' championship level on 38 points, five points ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa of Brazil.

In the constructors' championships, McLaren are 20 points ahead of Ferrari.

'We want the world titles, both the drivers' and constructors', and for this we are working harder than ever,' Haug said.

The secret of the successful start to the season is 'hard work, complete integration of all team members in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart, the highest readiness for self-criticism, a good atmosphere and the absolute will continually to improve.'

McLaren-Mercedes were investigated and cleared of giving prohibited team orders by motor racing's ruling body FIA after Spanish two-time world champions Alonso and Hamilton took the first two places at last month's Monaco Grand Prix.

'If FIA had had the slightest suspicion we would certainly have been punished. But they didn't find anything and that doesn't surprise me. Where there isn't anything you won't find anything,' Haug said.

Haug said that after the city course of Monaco, McLaren-Mercedes were well prepared for the different challenges of the races in Montreal and the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis a week later.

'The circuit in Montreal is the complete opposite of Monaco. A little instead of a lot of downforce, fast instead of slow turns, higher instead of lower average speeds, and on top of that the highest demands on the brakes in the whole season,' he said.

'We have tested on the long Paul Ricard circuit (in Montreal) and I think we are well equipped.

'For Indianapolis we should be quite well equipped. But it is always wiser to give your answers on the circuit, rather than announce them beforehand.'