• Japanese Grand Prix

McLaren races against time to fly in new wing

ESPNF1 Staff
October 8, 2010 « Confident Vettel has no worries about a wet qualifying | »
Lewis Hamilton's shattered suspension © Sutton Images
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McLaren is flying an engineer from London to Japan with a replacement wing for Lewis Hamilton's car following his crash during Friday's practice session at Suzuka.

He must reach the Japanese circuit early on Saturday in order to beat the parc ferme deadline so Hamilton can be back up and running with the MP5-25's new rear wing for qualifying and the race. He broke the new wing's left endfence and the only other version in Japan is fitted to Jenson Button's sister car.

When Hamilton returned to the track with nine minutes of the afternoon session remaining, his car was fitted with the old wing as he drove to the 13th quickest time.

"We can repair the wing with the new end plates," team boss Martin Whitmarsh said.

At the track, Hamilton's mechanics are also facing a long night as his chassis was also damaged, and after a patch-up job for the few afternoon practice laps a new car will be built up overnight.

Mercifully, Button's similar spin did not result in contact with the tyre barrier, while Michael Schumacher and others also had moments in the same section. "The bumps in the first part are worse than last year," said Sebastian Vettel. That is despite organisers modifying the kerbs after last year's multiple crashes.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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