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McLaren expected the Hungaroring to be one of its weakest circuits in 2019, according to team principal Andreas Seidl.
The Woking squad headed the midfield pack in qualifying with Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris ending the session in seventh and eighth respectively.
In the race, Sainz managed to cross the line in fifth place, the second consecutive race he has taken home 10 points.
But McLaren wasn't expecting such a strong result as it believed the slow speed corners of the Hungaroring would provide it with a big midfield challenge.
"The result this weekend on a track where there is a load of slow speed stuff, where we have a weakness, to see we could cure these issues with updates we were bringing, understanding the car better and better is great," said Seidl.
"We were clearly the fourth quickest car around here which is a big boost heading into the summer break. And also the second half fo the season where we have circuits where there are low-speed sections such as Singapore.
"That is really encouraging and we will still bring parts after the summer break, updates. So well done to the aero department back at home, to pull off all these updates.
"This race we had here, a track which on paper looked like being our weakest one, being that competitive now gives us a lot of momentum for the season half of the season."
Wheel gun failure costs Norris a higher result
The second McLaren of Lando Norris eventually finished ninth - however McLaren believes that it could have been sixth without a wheel gun failure during his pit stop.
"Unfortunately we had an issue with the left-rear wheel gun which caused a delay in the tyre change," Seidl confirmed.
"In the end that lost him two positions, plus allowed Bottas to get close to him in the race and get him as well.
Sorry from our side to Lando that he was unlucky, because in terms of driving he pulled off a great performance. But these things happen in racing."
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
156 members have this team as their favourite
Replies (6)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Exceptional job from them again. I really hope this carries on in 2019 aswell, we need them, Ferrari and RBH up there fighting Merc'.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
McLaren have no doubt been the standout team for the first half of the season. I hope they have a great 2nd half as well.
Kean
Posts: 692
I'm really happy for McLaren. Big fan. Happy for Sainz, talk about capitalizing in the races. Impressed by Norris' speed in quali, he's the kind of driver that can set a fast lap on the first try which is impressive for a rookie. With this turnaround though, it leaves me wondering what could have been if they had sticked with Honda. At the time I thought it was the right decision to leave Honda, but now I just wish McLaren had works status. One could argue of course that this turnaround was only possible with the switch to Renault, because it highlighted the flaws of the car... but still.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
A divorce was the best possible outcome for both parties. Had they not divorced they'd still not been clued in to just how flawed their chassis philosophy was, and they'd still be blaming Honda alone, and Honda would probably not have gotten the leeway it needed to develop to catch up. And that aside, McLaren just ain't the type to benefit from a works status. And I still think Honda and Renault are pretty close in general, albeit Honda could very well have the edge now, so I don't think there is much difference for McLaren in that regard either. They are gittin' gud. Honda is gittin' gud. We all got what we wanted at the end of the day.
Kean
Posts: 692
Yeah, I guess. I just really want McLaren fighting for wins again. Really excited to see what Key can manage for next year and beyond.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think McLaren could be one of the teams to benefit massively from a budget cut. Currently they spend about half of Merc' and Ferrari, and the roof of the cut happens to lie pretty conveniently in McLaren's spending field.