Reuters
Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. during qualifying. Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. during qualifying. Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
With only 7 more races to go, McLaren are in third position on the Constructors’ Championship table with 106 points. The team had already shown considerable improvement last year, and they have managed to kick it up a notch in 2020. However, not everything is as perfect as it seems.
One of the main issues that seem to be plaguing the team is the performance of the MCL35 in the face of a tailwind. It may not sound like much, but both Carlos Sainz and team boss Andreas Seidl think that it is one of the main problems that need to be addressed.
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Following the climax of the Russian Grand Prix, Sainz said, “We had a lot of tailwind in Sector One, and all of a sudden our car was not anymore in the sweet spot. We were suffering a lot more with car balance issues.
‘I don’t like speaking publicly about the issues that we have in our car. But we do know that we have a wind sensitivity issue.”
McLaren team principal Seidl agreed with the Spanish driver’s comments. He said, “As we have seen (in Russia) it can quickly change our car from being a very competitive car to a car that is less competitive, which sucks.”
Wind issues high up on McLaren F1’s to-do list
Seidl confirmed that Technical Director James Key was aware of the issues and sorting it out is his priority for next season. “I think we made a step forward with this year’s car.
“But it’s obviously still something which is quite high up the list of James’s side, in terms of making further improvements. It’s easy to see the problem, but it’s a very complex topic to solve. (But) that’s what we are working on,” said Seidl.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – McLaren’s Lando Norris and Williams’ Nicholas Latifi in action during the race. Pool via REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Next year, the Woking-based outfit is set to switch to Mercedes power, and sorting these issues out will only take the team further as they plot their way back to the pinnacle of the sport.
However, the 2020 season isn’t over yet. They face stiff competition from rivals Racing Point, Renault, and even Ferrari for the coveted ‘best of the rest’ title.
Can they hold on to their position through to the end of the season? Or will there be some heartbreaks along the way? Only time will tell.
