Seidl’s big stage value at McLaren

It was announced this morning Andrea Seidl stop being the ‘Team Principal’ of McLaren to pack Saubera group where he was successful a few years ago and will be Audi from 2026. After his four seasons in Woking, the balance is quite positive.

We must consider the situation in which the legendary British team found itself when the German engineer landed. Fernando Alonso He just retired after the umpteenth car disappointment and was not renewed Stoffel Vandoorne, the eternal promise of those from Woking, as expectations were not met. The failure of McLaren-Honda and the first year with Renault as a machine supplier nothing changed.

With the arrival of Carlos Sainz in Woking and the debut of Lando Norris in the ‘Great Circus’ the challenge was not easy, but from the first moment the project looked up. Already in his first year, they are the best team in the central zone and the Spanish driver is the best behind Mercedes, red bull Y Ferrari.

In 2020 they managed to finish third in the manufacturers’ standings and, in 2021, the final peak came with historic double at Monza led by Daniel Ricciardo after ten years without a single victory in the locker. In addition to winning again, together with Seidl they joined eight podiums, a good figure given that since 2014 one has not been achieved. This 2022 did not result in upward dynamics but they were able to continue fighting the conditions in the middle zone.

After four years of great disappointment, in 2019 Zak Brown decided to reorganize the team and the first important head to roll was that of Eric Boullier. So, he chose to convince Seidl, who at the time was director of Porsche in fighting the world but I have no experience in Formula 1. In perspective, nothing went wrong. He helped McLaren get back on track.