We have what it takes to fight for midfield supremacy - McLaren

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl is confident McLaren can lead the way in the Formula 1's midfield this season.

Lando Norris scored his maiden F1 podium at the Austrian Grand Prix by finishing third, while team-mate Carlos Sainz was fifth, a place ahead of Sergio Perez in his Racing Point, a team many have suggested would be the best of the rest this year.

Seidl has been open in his dislike for the design-by-photography approach taken by Racing Point for 2020, and views the team as the primary midfield rival to McLaren.

Asked if any conclusions could be drawn on who has the stronger package of the two teams, Seidl replied: “Obviously, it’s difficult to judge.

"In the end, Racing Point and us split the strategies at the first pit stop. Perez went on the medium tyre, us on the hard.

“It’s difficult to know if this medium would have worn down towards the end and then we would have got him.

“What’s encouraging for us to see is simply, after we had some doubts on Friday in terms of our long-run pace, is that we actually were even with Racing Point and the Ferraris.

“It gives us a lot of positivity looking ahead.”

Not every team was able to bring upgrades to Austria, and while McLaren was among those to bring new parts, Seidl confirmed the team are working flat out to bring further updates soon.

He added: “James Key and his team have some good updates in the pipeline coming [in the next] weeks and months, so I think we have everything in our hands to hopefully fight for this best position in the midfield again.”

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