F1 News

Seidl determined to leave nothing to chance as McLaren eye to secure 4th place

Seidl determined to "leave nothing to chance" as McLaren eye to secure 4th place

22-10-2019 12:05
Author profile picture

Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl is determined to keep his team's good form up in Mexico as they look to seal the fourth place in the constructors' championship, with the Woking-based side leading Renault by 34 points with four races to go.

The two papaya orange cars have topped the midfield for most of the 2019 season, with Carlos Sainz leading the charge as the Spaniard has scored 76 of the team's points.

He currently sits in P6 of the drivers' standings, and should it stay like that, he would be the first driver not of either Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull to finish in the top six since 2014, when Valtteri Bottas finished fifth for Williams.

Although Seidl has previously stated developments for the 2020 season are well on their way back in Woking, the German also knows his side still have to secure the 'best of the rest' title as the F1 circus heads to Mexico this weekend.

"We go to Mexico with clear objectives in mind," the former Porsche man said in his preview of this weekend's action.

"The high altitude at the track poses an interesting challenge when setting up the car on Friday, so we'll be working hard to optimise our aero package for qualifying and the race."

The thin air at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez usually favours the cars with better aero packages, with Max Verstappen winning the previous two editions of the Mexican Grand Prix for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

"As we head into these final few races, our focus remains on maximising the opportunities to score points through work at the track and back at the factory. Our position in the Constructors' Championship is not yet secured and we must keep pushing to ensure we leave nothing to chance."