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McLaren wants to attack Red Bull: "Would say we are on target"

16 January 2021 at 16:04
Last update 16 January 2021 at 21:17
  • GPblog.com

McLaren will drive with Mercedes engines from next season. The integration of the power unit in the chassis is currently in full swing and according to team boss Andreas Seidl, that goes completely smoothly. With German power sources McLaren hopes to close the gap to Red Bull Racing.

"It’s obviously a big task switching to the Mercedes power unit for next year," Seidl told Formula1.com honestly. Despite the man-hours involved, the team boss is satisfied with the progress made in recent weeks. "But I have to say I’m very happy with the progress we’re seeing there," he said.

The cooperation with Mercedes can be called fine. "I would say the car build is going along very well. The relationship, together with the guys from Brixworth, from Mercedes, has started also on a very good basis. There’s a very good dialogue and technical exchange, so I’m very happy with that," he says.

McLaren on target

In two months, the winter tests are scheduled in Bahrain. By then, all the work should be completed. “I would say we’re on target, no red lights there at the moment but thanks to a lot of power unit changes also recently at McLaren, we have quite some experience also within the team to do that", Seidl is referring to partnerships with Honda and Renault in recent years. "How good we manage to do that, we will only see next year once we go testing.”