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McLaren now have clear focus on more podiums in Formula 1

McLaren now have "clear focus" on more podiums in Formula 1

20-11-2019 10:21
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Bobby Vincent

Carlos Sainz recorded McLaren's first podium finish in over five years on Sunday, after Lewis Hamilton's disqualification from the top three lifted the Spaniard up to third-place, and team principal Andreas Seidl now highlights a "clear focus" on more Formula 1 podiums.

McLaren have looked like the McLaren of old this season and Sainz has been the catalyst for the Woking-based team in their climb back up the Formula 1 grid. They have all but secured P4 in the Constructors' Championship and Sunday was the highlight of their 2019.

Sainz started down in P20 after not being able to record a lap time in qualifying due to engine issues, but the Spanish driver drove a remarkable race and climbed all the way up to P4 in Brazil and due to Hamilton's incident with Alex Albon, the Mercedes driver was given a five-second penalty and the McLaren man was lifted into the top three.

"I'm happy for the entire team, everyone has done so much work throughout the year," Seidl said to Sky Sports F1. "Performing P4 for us is a big step forward, and a great motivation for all of us to keep working hard with the clear aim that at some point, that we fight for podiums down to our own outright performance."

On Sainz's first-ever podium finish, Seidl said: "He's done a sensational job all year and he deserves it."