| The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is | | | | enjoy Australia, there is a great atmosphere and I |
| expected to spread out the thrill and the | | | | am excited to get out there and see where we |
| excitement in the race track this weekend. This | | | | are compared to the other teams," said Alonso. |
| will be the team's very first time to invade the | | | | "There are a lot of new things in the sport this |
| track in its new era. Fernando Alonso, Double and | | | | season such as new rules, all teams running on |
| his equally famous teammate Lewis Hamilton, | | | | Bridgestone Potenzas, drivers changing teams. |
| have completed their pre-season test programme | | | | Everyone is starting from zero and it is going to |
| with the MP4-22s. The test programme covered | | | | make things very interesting. Am I going to go |
| over 13,300km before arriving in Australia. | | | | out at Albert Park and win my first race with |
| Fernando and Lewis completed 10,200km while | | | | Vodafone McLaren Mercedes? We are certainly |
| Pedro dela Rosa, another famous racer, covered | | | | going to push hard to try." |
| 3,100km. | | | | Both drivers have been working closely with their |
| Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team infrastructure | | | | race engineers during testing at the McLaren |
| arrived in Australia by sea freight during the week | | | | Technology Centre. Alonso is working with Mark |
| commencing 26th February, having left the | | | | Slade and Hamilton with Phil Prew. During the |
| McLaren Technology Centre on 10th January. This | | | | Grands Prix, Fernando will have Steve Hallam as |
| was followed by the air freight. On the 11th of | | | | his contact on the pit wall and then Lewis will be |
| this month, the team arrived with Fernando | | | | speaking with Richard Hopkirk. Car racing parts |
| arriving in Melbourne on the 12th and Lewis on the | | | | are also checked to ensure maximum |
| 14th. | | | | performance. These cars may not be mated to |
| Upon arrival in Melbourne, the first task given to | | | | Bosch product lines but the power is remarkably |
| the team is to find the freight and start the | | | | better. |
| process of setting up the necessary facilities like | | | | "Taking to the grid Australia is the end of one |
| the garage and office areas. The few days spent | | | | journey for me and the start of an even bigger |
| were full of fun and stimulation. On Thursday, | | | | one. I have been working incredibly hard towards |
| Fernando and Lewis will join Pedro for a team | | | | this moment over the past few months, testing, |
| event at a beach front restaurant in Melbourne, | | | | physical training, working with the engineers at the |
| before arriving at the Albert Park track to walk | | | | McLaren Technology Centre and studying the |
| the track with their engineers and partake in the | | | | regulations," Hamilton said. "I feel I have the |
| first technical meeting of the Grand Prix. | | | | experience I need and I definitely feel ready to |
| The team has spent time during the winter | | | | get out there. This year will be a learning curve |
| season with Fernando and Lewis familiarizing | | | | for me, Albert Park is one of the seven new |
| everyone and building one solid unit. The phase | | | | tracks I'll be racing on, but it is not a huge |
| was more like a process of learning and having | | | | problem more an exciting challenge. I have always |
| two new drivers to add element of motivation. | | | | enjoyed street circuits, so it is great to start my |
| "Having spent the winter getting to know my | | | | career in Formula 1 with Vodafone McLaren |
| new team and new car, I feel really at home and | | | | Mercedes here. |
| am very motivated to start racing. I always | | | | |