McLaren boss predicts a return to one-stop strategies in Spain

Spanish Grand Prix

McLaren boss predicts a return to one-stop strategies in Spain

Andreas Seidl feels the harder Pirelli rubber will see normal service resume

Sam Hall

Wednesday 12 August 2020 13:40

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl expects normal service to resume at the Spanish Grand Prix with one stop strategies across the board.

At the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, a combination of warmer than normal conditions and softer Pirelli tyres combined to create a strategic nightmare for those on the pit wall.

Rather than navigating a regular one-stop race, high levels of wear forced the majority of teams into running two-stop strategies.

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However, despite temperatures set to soar once again in Barcelona, Seidl expects the harder compounds on offer to allow normal one-stop service to resume.

The McLaren boss said: "I would say it’s probably more likely to have a one stopper again.

“That’s all I can see at the moment.”

He added: “Honestly, it’s difficult to say. It’s still very early in the season and we only have been to three tracks so far. It will depend heavily also on the loads the tyres will see in terms of the type of corners and so on."

McLaren struggled last weekend, but Seidl insists the team is performing as expected - battling with Renault and Ferrari.

He commented: "That is the battle we are in with Renault, and for us that is obviously a good benchmark, knowing we have the same power unit and with knowing also the potential in terms of infrastructure, man power and budget that Renault has is a good reference for us, and of course, we want to try to beat them again, similar to last year.

“But we have seen now, here on this track at least, that these ambient conditions seemed like Renault made a good step forward as well."

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