A complicated end of the season for McLaren
McLaren has been going through a rough patch since the Russian Grand Prix. After a triple header where the team only collected a total of 4 points, Andreas Seidl and his team are determined to finish the season on a high note.
It was a dream season for McLaren, with consistent performances and points scored regularly. All accompanied by several podiums, 4 podiums for Lando Norris and a victory for Daniel Ricciardo, as well as a 1-2 finish at the Monza Grand Prix. The team seemed well on track to secure 3rd place in the constructor’s championship.
But the results have since greatly reversed since the Russian Grand Prix and the huge disappointment of Norris who loses his chance of victory a few laps from the end, finishing 7th. Since then, the team has been struggling as McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl explains.
For the whole team, scoring four points in three races is obviously painful. But if you look at what happened and how we lost a lot of points, things that are also out of our [hands] or just bad luck and it’s part of the sport we are in. Sometimes, I guess it’s on your side and sometimes not, said Andreas Seidl.
This unlucky situation is notably illustrated by Norris’ puncture in Qatar, which cost him a good fourth place. McLaren now has a deficit of 39.5 points to Ferrari’s 3rd place in the constructors’ standings. However, this does not mean that the team is giving up as the season’s last two Grand Prix approach, and prefers to focus on the positive side of the Qatar Grand Prix.
« The good thing is that we still saw that we had a competitive car, two drivers who were competitive on track, and the team also did a good job in terms of pit stops, we had very good pit stops. So we will simply come to Saudi Arabia and fight back, explains Seidl.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix may be an opportunity for McLaren to reignite the battle for 3rd place in the constructor’s championship against Ferrari.
