McLaren insists it has no disappointment with Bahrain GP qualifying form
McLaren insists it has no disappointment with its Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying form, after claiming others had hyped up its Formula 1 potential too much.
A strong pre-season test for the Woking-based outfit, allied to some rapid laps in Friday practice at Sakhir, pointed to McLaren emerging as the main threat to Red Bull and Mercedes.
But Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris ended up qualifying sixth and seventh on the grid, having been edged out by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said the performance in Bahrain was exactly what the team had been predicting, with factors outside of its control having flattered its potential.
“I think what there was a bit of a hype after the test, and after practice, regarding our performance, but we always knew and were always realistic about where we think we are,” he said.
“In practice we just looked better than where we should have been because of, I guess, different settings that have been used in order to be best prepared for qualifying.
“I think we simply showed more than the others and that's why, at least from what I could read in the media or heard, there was a bit of a hype.”
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Norris said McLaren always expected to be in the mix with Ferrari and AlphaTauri in qualifying.
“We're not surprised,” he said. “I think we knew where we would probably be. We knew we were going to be fighting the AlphaTauris and Ferraris, and I think we were in the mix obviously.”
Ricciardo added: “It is so close that group behind Mercedes and Red Bull. I think this is going to be a trend probably and it could be all season. But certainly for the first few races, I think it's going to be separated by probably just who puts a better lap together.”
Despite McLaren not emerging as the clear third-best team, Seidl said he was still pleased with the progress his team made over the winter as it switched from Renault to Mercedes power.
“It's important to stay realistic of the picture of where we are,” he said. “I'm very happy with the progress we could make over the winter with the team, with development on the car side, with integration of the Mercedes powerunit, and with getting both drivers ready for the season.
“We have to make sure that we are again performing well at the race weekends to score big points each weekend, and then I think we're in a good position to fight again for a good position in the constructors' championship.”
Related video
The F1 performance swing that highlights Mercedes' low-rake problem
Masi: FIA to take stricter line on F1 first lap contact
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further