McLaren "realistic" in "difficult" constructors' fight with Racing Point

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl is refusing to throw in the towel on the fight with Racing Point for third in this year's Formula 1 constructors' championship.

With Mercedes marching to its seventh constructors' crown, and Red Bull out on its own in second, McLaren is currently locked in a fascinating three-team battle with Racing Point and Ferrari for third place, sandwiching those two teams who are all separated by just two points.

Given its performance in the Spanish Grand Prix last time out as Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez finished fourth and fifth, Racing Point has suggested it has the edge over its rivals.

"I think the fight we are in, in terms of pure car performance, is with the Ferraris and the Renaults," said Seidl. "We need to stay realistic there.

"If Racing Point actually can use the potential of the car they have, I think it is difficult to fight them.

"But in terms of the two drivers we have and the level of execution we have within the team, there is always a chance to still battle them. There is always a chance also to battle one Red Bull. “Also this fight for P3 we will not give up on as long as there is a chance."

Seidl believes there are mitigating factors in McLaren's favour that could help their cause, not least power unit supplier Renault in what is the final year of their partnership ahead of the F1 team reuniting with Mercedes from next year.

“We know about the weaknesses of our car, especially still in low speed, so we’re looking forward to tracks that are not so low-speed dependent and we have to see how it goes," added Seidl.

“A great thing also to mention is the reliability so far on our side. We’ve had now six race weekends without any single issue on the reliability side which is also another great testament for the step forward we have taken as a team – the way we design parts, produce parts and build the cars.

“The way the guys work together in terms of communication between the race team and the home team [at the factory], that’s always something which we put a lot of focus on over the winter after we lost some points there last year, so I am very happy with that as well.

“And we should also mention clearly that Renault is playing a big role in that they also did a great job over the winter with their power unit in order to contribute to this great reliability and the great performance we have shown so far this year.”

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