The McLaren F1 Team go into the Austrian double-header, on the back of their best overall finish of the season in France. Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo finished fifth and sixth respectively, adding crucial points to the teams tally.
If the predicted forecast is anything to go by, this weekends Styrian Grand Prix could be an eventful one with rain forecast for the entire weekend. This throws a huge element of surprise into the paddock with very little wet running being done so far this season.
It could make for an unexpected result come Sunday at the circuit where Norris took his first podium in Formula 1 last season. The weather could mean that some huge opportunities could be thrown at some of the midfield teams, McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl knows how important it is to make the most from every chance.
“After a well-executed race in France, we come away from the first race of the triple-header with crucial points for the Constructors’ Championship. We now switch our focus to Austria as we prepare to go racing in the Styrian hills for the next two weekends.
“Two races back-to-back at the same track present an interesting challenge as we could have two very different races due to certain conditions such as the weather. So, it’s important we treat every race as a single event with the same preparation despite it being the same track. As a team we must continue to work hard to maintain good reliability and remain on top of parts management during this intense period.
“The battle with our competitors remains closely-contested, with very little separating us. We need to be ready to maximise any opportunities that present themselves over the coming races. It’s also important we stay focused and keep working on our performances in every session to increase our chances of qualifying in the best positions possible to then give us a fighting chance to score points. There’s a lot to play for over the next two races and we’ll keep pushing.”
Credit: Charles Coates/ Motorsport Images/ McLaren F1 Team