Andreas Seidl confident: McLaren at birth in 2021 despite the crisis

(Motorsport-Total.com) – McLaren battle a few weeks ago, the first Formula 1 group to send part of its workforce short-time in the face of the corona crisis . “The battle for myself is one of the most difficult issues I have in my 20 years in motorsport so far, “reveals team boss Andreas Seidl, for whom personally it was anything but easy to take this step.

The McLaren Group is currently in the early summer break. Only the management staff around Seidl, James Key, Andrea Stella and Piers Thynne and “all the people working in the projects for the ventilators are active “, reveals the team boss. These are between 100 and 150 People, all other members of the Formula 1 group are in the “Shutdown”.

Meanwhile, numerous groups and also Formula 1 itself followed and many employees were sent on short-time work. “The good battle that everyone understood why we are doing this at the moment,” says Seidl, explaining that McLaren is going this way, “to protect the group and to be sure that we will get through the crisis well.”

McLaren boss Zak Brown recently warned that Formula 1 in the crisis could lose several groups at once . “I definitely assume that we will survive the crisis and that we will be born next year,” explains Seidl, at least with regard to his own racing team. At the same time, he also clarifies that the financial situation in Woking is “very tense”.

goal for 2020: minimal financial effort

although he is not too concerned about the McLaren- Future, the traditional team also faces “huge challenges”, says Seidl. “Here, of course, we also need maximum support from our shareholders,” he explains. Because of this, however, he was “confident” that McLaren would survive the crisis.

“There are clearly still some uncertainties because nobody currently knows how many races in this one Year really take place and how high the income will be, “he recalls. “But I think we did everything we could to be as prepared as possible for the worst case,” he says and explains: “It is important to save costs in the short term.” This included measures such as temporary short-time work.

“It is important that we remain in the shutdown for as long as possible, because each designate that we do not operate our company saves usa money” , explains Seidl. Also important is the “Freeze” for the season 2020, so that the groups would not have to bear any additional development costs for next year's car this year. You have to make sure that “we get through this season with minimal financial expenditure.”

Seidl hopes for crisis as “wake-up call”

“There is a very good exchange between the groups – also together with the FIA ​​and Formula 1 “, praises Seidl and explains:” I believe that there is a fundamental understanding in all groups, including the large ones, that we are in a crisis that is causing the existence of some groups and maybe even endanger the [ganzen] Formula 1. “

“In Formula 1 we are used to ignoring a lot in our bladder, changed happened around usaherum “, recalls Seidl and adds:” We also ignored for a long time that we lose money every year by participating. I hope that the crisis, if you want to gain anything positive, will be a final one The wake-up call is that we urgently need to change something. “

” We have to ensure that Formula 1 is simply healthier and more sustainable for all participants, “demands the McLaren team leader . For him that is “the most important aspect that has to be tackled now.” You now have to “make decisions quickly”, says Seidl, who, for example, for a even lower budget limit from 2021 pleads.

Formula 1 rules : Adjustments yes, quick shots no

“The basic problem of Formula 1 is currently still this big scissors that exist between the three big groups and the rest “, he remembers and adds:” It is no secret that we have fought to keep the budget limit below the 175 million [US-Dollar]. I hope that we can now get this 'cap' down for the future. “

“I believe that after this year, in which we will all lose a lot of money, it is important that we give the different team owners a positive outlook “said Seidl. At the same time, however, he also warns of rapid shots that would intervene too deeply in the DNA of the premier class. You have to be “careful” to change the race format prematurely, for example.

“In my view, we have to be careful not to change Formula 1 too much want “, he clarifies and reminds that the Prove and the sport 2019 basically “worked”. Also with the new regulations for 2021, which is now 2022 will be introduced, “one is on the right way to offer better races.”

Basically, he would like a “healthy” sport, “in which one also Can make money. ” The corona crisis could also be a probability to make this turn.