Ricciardo “absorbed enormous pressure” – Mclarens Andreas Seidl

It was damage control for that McLaren F1 team In the American Grand Prix with Daniel Ricciardo 5th place and Lando Norris Eighth place, as the team was able to keep third place in the constructors’ championship.

It’s been a tough weekend for McLaren with championship rivals Scuderia Ferrari having a much stronger package all weekend. Ricciardo and Norris both had an excellent fight in the first round Carlos Sainz Jr, with Ricciardo as the winner.

Ricciardo defended Sainz brilliantly throughout the race, while Norris lost the pace a little. Before Ricciardo was however Charles Leclercwhich means that after finishing fourth and seventh, Ferrari closed the gap to just 3.5 points to McLaren.

Team boss Andreas Seidl believes fifth and eighth places were the best they could get at Circuit of the Americas and that the team will look at how they can perform even better after Mexico.

“P5 and P8 here at COTA today were pretty much all that was on the table. We fought a very strong Ferrari team that weekend and we did well to overtake at least one of them and keep P3 in the constructors’ championship. A strong race for Daniel today, past Carlos [Sainz] on the first lap and then built up enormous pressure up to the checkered flag.

“With Lando not gaining any positions at the start of the race, it was difficult for him, but he stayed in the chase until the finish line. Good work from everyone on the track this weekend who worked long hours in hot conditions, as always well supported by everyone at the plant and our colleagues at Mercedes HPP.

“It’s been a very busy week for us in Austin. We had a number of great events with our partners, sponsors and guests and really enjoyed a fabulous atmosphere in a jam-packed and lively COTA filled with brilliant, enthusiastic fans. We’re going home now, regrouping, and analyzing the race to see how we can get even more out of this package when we return across the Atlantic to the Mexican Grand Prix. ”