Seidl happy to switch to Mercedes: ''Important step forward for McLaren''

Where most teams can't do much between 2020 and 2021, McLaren has to work. The switch from Renault to Mercedes engines will take place without changing everything on the chassis.

Heavy operation

With the postponed rules it might have been easier for McLaren to stay with Renault for another year, but once the divorce is signed, there is of course no way back. So McLaren has to find a way to integrate the Mercedes engines into the chassis and that's no easy task.

''The integration of the Mercedes engine will be an open heart operation'', says team boss Andreas Seidl about this to, among others, Formula 1.de. ''We already have conversations with Mercedes to be able to plan this work as soon as possible, but I am very sure that we can arrange this very well'", says Seidl.

Step forward

The disadvantage for McLaren is then the fact that the other teams are allowed to use two tokens to improve a part of their choice. McLaren doesn't have that option, but the choice for Mercedes was already made and Seidl didn't want to take another step back for the 2021 season.

''We are very happy that we can do this and I am convinced that it is a good step forward for us. Of course other teams can take a step in another area, but I think that's a good compromise for us'', concludes Seidl, who doesn't want to make a big leap forward with the Renault bikes until 2020.