McLaren’s Seidl says team ‘needs to take risks’

McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl says the team’s road back to the front of the grid will compel the Woking-based outfit to take risks in the future.

After four years of under-performance and struggles, three of which were shared with engine partner Honda, McLaren is enjoying a resurgence this season.

The papaya squad’s Renault-powered MCL34 currently leads F1’s mid-field pack, proving to be a consistent performer in the capable hands of its young drivers, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.

However, the improvements this season of F1’s second most successful team are but a first step towards restoring its former lustre.

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But sustaining McLaren’s upward trend will require taking risks insists Seidl, even if mistakes appear along the way.

“I’m a guy who encourages people to take risks, to protect them when something goes wrong, Seidl explained. “You have to accept that mistakes are happening.

“For sure, you should try to prevent them in the first place, or you should make sure they don’t happen a second time. But with the position we are in, we need to take risks.

“But to do that you also need to have a certain confidence again, also inside the team, a certain culture and spirit. And I think that’s something we have to build up now again together. Not saying that it’s too bad.

“I was really impressed when I started with all the good results already this year. How positive the atmosphere was and how good the momentum was which was there. And it’s just important now to keep going in that direction.”

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Looking ahead, Seidl sees McLaren eventually following a more “adventurous” approach to engineering and design, as going out on a limb is where the fruit is found says the ex-Porsche man.

“The most important thing for me is to have continuous development, see continuous improvement as a team back home, and out here,” Seidl said.

“I mean it’s important that we also take our time to make sure we go into detail in terms of the methods, tools and everything we are using to develop this stuff.

“Because that’s the foundation in the end for an aggressive development which is required, especially when you have a gap like we have.

“But also brave enough to take, let’s say, risky or adventurous concept decisions. That’s something that other teams with a lot of experience and confidence, like Mercedes, can do.

“It’s important to also, let’s say, to be in categories like pits stops, race strategy showing already now that we can take the fight with the big ones, because it’s clear that that’s had a gap on the performance side and that’s something that will take time.”