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Michael pleased with car progress

ESPN Staff
July 30, 2012 « Domenicali wary of Lotus threat in championship | Ecclestone planning for New Jersey »
Sam Michael: "Our target is to keep pushing for the rest of the season" © Sutton Images
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McLaren sporting director Sam Michael is pleased with the progress that the team is making with the MP4-27.

Having started the season very strongly, McLaren endured a slump in form before recovering thanks to a major upgrade that saw it finish second in Germany with Jenson Button and win the Hungarian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton. Michael said he was confident the car was now quick enough to help it overturn the deficit in the championship standings but that McLaren would need to continue developing the car relentlessly to do so.

"That's our target. Yes we brought upgrades to every race - we took some big ones to Hockenheim and some small ones to here but still important - and our target is to keep pushing for the rest of the season on this. And I think we'll need it to be competitive in the championship; we are behind at the moment and our job is to get back in front and we have a fast enough car to do that at the moment."

When asked about the threat of Lotus in both championships, Michael said McLaren should only focus on its own performance and enjoy the boost that Hamilton's victory had provided.

"They are fast but worrying about them doesn't do anything, you have to make the car faster … We have a holiday now with two weeks for everybody so it's a good way to go in to it."

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