McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl concedes the team won’t be fighting for wins until at least 2023, given the resources of the ‘big three’.
McLaren moved up the order last season following a disappointing period to claim ‘best of the rest’ honours behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull and whilst Seidl expects to make further progress in 2020, he’s not expecting a miracle.
“We deliberately won’t do that,” Seidl told Auto Motor und Sport when asked if the team would focus on 2021 at the cost of this year, insisting they need to maintain and build on the motivation 2019 delivered, but their attention would likely switch to next season sooner than it normally would.
“We have to keep up the positive run we have made this year,” he said. “We also want to take a step forward in 2020 – not in terms of position – I still expect a hard fight for 4th place again.
“That is the maximum that is currently possible in Formula 1 given the current strength and budget.
“We still see enough weak spots in the team that we have to work on. So we have to show that we are developing in these areas and that is exactly why it is important to have a good 2020 season.
“It is clear to me that a balancing act awaits us in the current year, from when we flick the switch fully to 2021. Logically, this will happen earlier than usual.”
Although a budget cap will come in for 2021, Seidl concedes that only once it has truly taken effect will McLaren be in a position to fight the ‘big three’ for consistent wins and podium finishes, which he expects to happen in 2023.
“The top teams still have more budget, more resources, more people. And they do a better job too. After the start of the new regulations, it will take time for the budget cap to take effect. I therefore expect to be on the podium and win in 2023.”
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