McLaren F1 team changes won't fully pay off until 2020 season

The team has bounced back from a difficult 2018 campaign to currently sit fourth place in the constructors' championship, just two points ahead of Renault.

But having undertaken a major infrastructure overhaul, which has included the arrival of new team boss Andreas Seidl and technical director James Key, McLaren is convinced that it will have to wait until 2020 to show off the real impact of that restructuring.

"This year's car, which is a good step forward compared to last year's car, has been started late after all the issues that were there last year with the team," said Seidl.

"I think the full extent of all the changes that have been initiated already inside the team last year we will only see next year, because it is actually the first car that is in the normal rhythm of the development.

"And when does that normally start? As soon as we put the [previous] car on track in winter testing.

"We see some strong or weak points on the car straight away and that is the first time actually where you start thinking what can we still develop or improve for this year's car, or are there things around that we will tackle for the year after?"

While Renault's return to form means McLaren is going to have a major fight on its hands to finish fourth this year, Seidl does sense growing momentum inside the team.

"I think since the beginning of the season already it was definitely a good step forward with the car compared to last year," he said.

"We have a car that is reacting to developments that we are bringing to the track.

"There is a lot of positive momentum, and positive spirit inside the team, which has also made it a lot easier for me to get started now.

"And it is still early days for me. Still I need time to understand everything inside the factory."