Andreas Seidl sets McLaren targets for 2022

After the first Grand Prix of the 2022 season, McLaren seemed to have taken the wrong path in the new regulations with the 14th and 15th places of Daniel Ricciardo et Lando Norris. Thanks to improvements made to the MCL36, the Briton was able to return to the race. At Imola, the 22-year-old driver even managed to score his first podium of the season behind the two Red Bull. So seeing the Woking team fight for 5th position in the race as they did in Monaco is almost a miracle.  

It is in these ranks that McLaren wants to be all season as Andreas Seidl explains, the main team of the British team. “ Our objective is clear, we want to fight for P4 in the constructor's championship. I think we have everything we need on the team for Lando and Daniel to be able to do it. So we have to make sure that we continue to develop this car. »

The team with the most development in Barcelona

But the former engineer knows that this 4th place is coveted by many teams. “ I wouldn't say that I feel fully comfortable because we face strong competition with good drivers, specifies the German. I would say the grid order varies a lot depending on different circuits and conditions and tire choice. »

It was in Barcelona, ​​like almost most of the Paddock, that McLaren made numerous modifications to its car. There were 10 changes in Spain, making the British team the one that had made the most changes. So you shouldn't expect any big news for the next dates in the calendar.  

« In terms of racing, I think we have to continue with the package we have. There are always some light tweaks or minor updates coming to our plan. We took a good step forward in Barcelona, ​​addressing some of the car's weaknesses moving forward. But at the same time, many other cars did the same “, admits Andreas Seidl. 

Every tenth counts for McLaren

But Andreas Seidl prefers not to get too far ahead in his predictions given the unpredictable nature of this season. The rankings are far from being fixed and with only 18 and 19 points ahead of Alfa Romeo et Alpine, the situation can quickly change. “ Everything is relative compared to other teams. Like I said, honestly it's very difficult. It's very early days with these new cars. You saw how things can change so quickly from one race to another, from one circuit to the next. », underlines Andreas Seidl.

Big exit from the track @danielricciardo, red flag waved 🚩

Fortunately, more fear than harm for the Australian driver (and for his car) 👍#MonacoGP ???????? #F1

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/6oa1OC8gIZ

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 27, 2022

In Baku as in Monaco, every second is important and a mistake can cause a big drop in the rankings. In 2021, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen qualified in P3 was only 13 hundredths ahead of Carlos Sainz 5th. “ I don't forget that the competition is so close, with everyone within a tenth or two of each other. This is the competition we are in. Obviously what is important is that we maximize everything we have in our hands », says Andreas Seidl.

But to aim for this 4th place in the constructors' championship, McLaren will have to count on the performances of its two drivers. While Lando Norris is meeting expectations for the moment, the case is far from being similar in the other seat with Daniel Ricciardo, increasingly at an impasse at the wheel of his MCL36. 

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