Hamilton calls on McLaren to ‘beef up’ his car

LEWIS Hamilton has called on McLaren to beef up his car in qualifying if he is to have a decent crack at this year’s Formula One world title.

Despite Jenson Button’s victory in Australia on Sunday, and McLaren collecting 54 points from the opening two grands prix to sit second in the constructors’ championship behind Ferrari, their Achilles heel has so far been their one-lap pace.

It has resulted in Hamilton and Button starting fourth and eighth on the grid in the season-opener in Bahrain respectively, and 11th and fourth in Melbourne.