McLaren F1 Worried Coronavirus Could Play Spoilsport in Tense P3 Battle

The fight for the third place on the constructors’ table is steadily heating up on the track with just a single point separating McLaren, Renault, and Racing Point. Andreas Seidl, Mclaren team principal, felt that COVID-19 might also play a crucial role in handing the P3 to one of three teams.

According to Automotorundsport, Seidl is expecting the coronavirus to change a team’s luck over the next four races. “Good luck and bad luck with corona can help decide the three-way battle for third place in the constructors’ standings,” he said.

McLaren will be looking at their rivals, Racing Point as an example. To this point, both their drivers have been affected by the virus. To make it worse, Lance Stroll is still suffering from the effects of COVID-19.

Hence, his struggles on the track are quite evident, which has caused the Canadian to be out of the top 10 on drivers’ standings.

However, McLaren will hope to not to go through such a headache, especially at this time of the season. The team needs their drivers now more than ever, as the fight for P3 is looking like it will down to the wire.

Seidl reveals Mclaren are ready with backup if COVID-19 strikes one of the drivers

As the world is getting hit by the second wave of COVID-19, Formula 1, and the teams inside will look to shield themselves from the virus that could eventually become a burden to their entire paddock.

Although McLaren are giving their best to keep the drivers safe, they are still considering a situation otherwise. In case the misery of COVID-19 ends up attacking either Lando Norris or Carlos Sainz, McLaren have a driver up their sleeve.

“In case of absolute emergency, we would have a seat ready for Paul di Resta too,” Seidl said. The German also cleared that the di Resta option would entirely depend on Stoffel Vandoorne’s availability over that specific weekend.

Overall, the only question that might be running through the entire Mclaren team is, could their drivers manage to steer clear of COVID-19 and carry the team up to P3 by the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

(The quotes have been translated from German using Google Translate)