Brown: McLaren in "total clarity" now that Seidl is here
Andreas Seidl’s start as McLaren Formula 1 team principal has given it “total clarity” with its leadership and completed a management team described as not “second-best” in any area.

Former Porsche LMP1 head Seidl kicked off his new role with McLaren at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month, joining technical director James Key as McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown’s second major new recruit of 2019.
That followed the promotion of Andrea Stella to performance director and Gil de Ferran to sporting director, in the wake of Eric Boullier’s exit last summer.
Asked by Motorsport.com about what Seidl’s start with the team has done for McLaren’s leadership structure, Brown said: “I think we now have total clarity on the team and the leadership with Andreas.
“I’ve known Andreas for some time, he is a racer and he is technical, he is focused and he is dedicated.
“He is very clear in his direction and, as you know from where we have been, where maybe there have been too many chefs in the kitchen so to speak, now we have got one.
“So everything now I see, I like. We have a great working relationship. I am excited for the future.”
As well as the headline changes on the F1 management side, McLaren has shuffled its pack internally.
Brown says he is now finished with his work in reshaping McLaren’s top brass, but said “what Andreas ends up doing with the racing team is up to Andreas, and he has my full support”.
“From my leadership standpoint I’m done,” said Brown. “I’ve got what I want and am very pleased with.
“I landed everyone I wanted to land, I don’t feel like I got second-best in any of the areas.”
Prior to roles as director of race operations and team principal of Porsche’s LMP1 programme, Seidl managed BMW’s return to the DTM in 2012.
He has said little about his plans for the McLaren F1 team because of the short time has spent in the role, which means he is reserving “judgements or conclusions” about what may need changing.
“For sure I can use the experiences I have made in different categories,” said Seidl, when asked by Motorsport.com if his work elsewhere had already helped him spot opportunities to improve McLaren.
“I think the fundamental points that you need to have in place in order to have a successful organisation are the same, it doesn’t matter if it is a GT racing programme, an LMP programme or F1.
“Overall, the projects I have been involved in the past, they were also works programmes. Big programmes with big budgets. So I am convinced I can bring a lot of experience towards McLaren and apply them.
“At the same time, it is also important to take my time now and respect what is in place. There are a lot of good things. People are committed, there is a lot of talent.”

Previous article
Why Ferrari should stick with Binotto
Next article
Renault considering 'qualifying' F1 car for 2020

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | McLaren |
Author | Scott Mitchell |
Brown: McLaren in "total clarity" now that Seidl is here
Trending
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end