Mclaren F1 Team Principal Andreas Seidl, is adamant that his team can’t afford to lose focus this weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, after a strong opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“We head to Imola this week after making a strong start to the season in the opening race, but it’s crucial we stay focused and consolidate it. The team and our Mercedes colleagues are working hard as always to optimise our package and give us the best chance to fight for good points this weekend. At the same time, we continue to concentrate on our reliability and operational effectiveness to deliver to our full potential.”
In a year where the midfield looks closer than ever, Mclaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo brought home an impressive fourth and seventh place respectively, making a big statement to not only the other midfield teams but also to the top guns. The gap between Mclaren and the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team was the smallest it has been in years.
“It’s clear that several of our competitors have taken a step forward, although it’s difficult to be certain of the true running order from one race. This will only become clearer as the season progresses, with different conditions at circuits with different characteristics.”
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit which is playing host for a consecutive season this weekend, is a very different race track compared to the Bahrain International Circuit from the opening round. With less overtaking opportunities and track position being more important than ever, it presents a new challenge for the drivers this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to racing at Imola for a second consecutive season, this time with three full days of running that will allow us to optimise the set-up. Imola poses a fresh challenge from the previous race, with different cornering profiles and a narrower track layout.”
“There are fewer overtaking possibilities than at Bahrain, which increases the importance of track position and our performance on Saturday. On Sunday we’ll need to be ready for an exciting race which will pose a number of opportunities and challenges, just as we saw last year. We’re looking forward to another thrilling weekend of Formula 1.”
