McLaren placing 'high priority' on fixing slow speed problems

  • Published on 22 Jul 2019 10:28
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl says the team understands that there is a high priority to sort out the problems it has been having through slow-speed corners.

McLaren has been buoyed by a strong start to the 2019 season, currently sitting fourth in the constructors' standings, 21 points ahead of rivals Renault.

In the last seven races, the Woking squad has missed out on points just once, at the Canadian Grand Prix.

MORERosberg: Competitive McLaren would break Sainz/Norris relationship | Brown praises Norris' lack of errors in 2019

As it aims to further improve itself, Seidl says there is a weakness in the car with its speed through slow corners, which it aims to fix in the coming races.

"We know that this is one of our weak points we're having," he said. "That's something we continue to address with updates we are bringing.

"Of course it's high priority, in addition, to let's say increased performance overall in all areas."

"It's the natural understanding of the car with each practice, qualifying, and race you are doing Working out the weak points you are having and giving inputs to the development back home in order to address the weak points.

"But at the same time this goes parallel with the overall performance work. The fact is, the gap is still huge to the front and it's not just one specific area where we need to improve."

Seidl didn't expect McLaren leap

Seidl, who only joined McLaren this year, admits that he never expected the team to make such a significant leap from 2018.

Last year, McLaren devoted the second half of the season to aid the 2019 car, which saw it slip back to the rear of the field towards the end of the year.

"Overall after last year and me sitting home on gardening leave, I did not expect that the team would manage to make such a big step for this year's car," Seidl stated. "We shouldn't forget that at Abu Dhabi last year we were ninth fastest.

"But then it became more and more clear from the first race that we somehow have a car, depending on the race, that is fourth to sixth fastest.

"With the drives of Carlos and Lando, the strategy decisions, that's having a good step forward in car performance. We simply scored all these points and used the opportunities when other cars have been stronger than us."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • JuJuHound

    Posts: 352

    The whole excitement behind McLaren mature progres in 2019 is uncertain due to the Pirelli tires which seems to be performing well for this team and Mercedes while other are strugglin.

    • + 0
    • Jul 22 2019 - 10:45

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 1,198
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 203
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Sep 1 1994 (30)
  • Place of b. Madrid, ES
  • Weight 66 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar