Feb.21 (GMM) Compared with fellow grandees Red Bull and Ferrari, McLaren's pre-season is not running as smoothly.

After finding out that Mark Webber had done nearly 140 laps on Sunday in the new title-defending RB7, Lewis Hamilton described the feat as "crazy".

"I can only laugh," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "That's unbelievable. They're doing a really good job."

McLaren's radical MP4-26 joined the winter circus one test late and its ultimate performance is not yet clear.

"We urgently need to do a race simulation," the 2008 world champion is quoted as saying by O Estado de S.Paulo.

When asked how he feels about his new car, Hamilton answered: "It's ok, we are making progress. There's still a lot to come."

Jenson Button told The Sun: "I think it's unfair to judge us at this point because the amount of laps we have done is not massive.

"We really need some good days of running to really unlock this car."

France's autohebdo.fr quotes the 2009 world champion adding: "It seems like our base is good, but nobody will have a clear idea of where he stands until the first qualifying."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version