McLaren: F1 must not let ‘B teams’ become key for success

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl thinks strict limits need to be in place between so-called ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams on competitive “principle”.

He believes it is “worrying” for the rest of the grid if the ‘A’ squad benefits from the work of the ‘B’ squad – for example, if Red Bull were hypothetically able to improve their car if AlphaTauri innovated in a way that could help both teams.

As a result, that kind of collaboration between two teams could be seen as compromising the integrity of the sport, if that became the case.

And because of the ambitions McLaren have to get back to the front of the field, Seidl hopes to ensure the playing field is as level as it can be.

“It has two issues,” he told reporters when questioned about working relationships between teams, quoted by Motorsport.com.

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“It allows ‘B’ teams with, let’s say, less effort, putting less effort in, to overperform. But even more worrying is that the ‘A’ team is benefiting from it.

“And that is obviously the worrying thing, with the ambition we are having as a team. I still hope we find solutions here because clearly the target we are having, the ambition is not to have a second team, for example.

“I hope F1 never ends up in a position that you need to have a second team in order to fight at the front.”

Seidl, meanwhile, was quick to add that the success of Haas is fully deserved, going against the view of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who questioned their links to Ferrari, given the “super job” they have done to jump up the pecking order.

The McLaren team boss has “full confidence” the FIA currently have a robust system in place in combating any undue