Stroll: Barcelona a 'substantial step' towards normalization for Racing Point

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Racing Point's main owner Lawrence Stroll says the team's updates in Barcelona will mark a significant step towards normalization for the Silverstone-based outfit.

Stroll and a cohort of investors took over the former Force India outfit last summer, saving the team from a painful demise, but too late in the day for the investment group's resources to have an impact on the design of Racing Point's 2019 contender.

The pink outfit thus started the season with a car conceived during a time when uncertainty surrounded the squad and design compromises were necessary.

Since, the team has played catch-up with regard to the development of its RP19 which will receive its first major upgrade package at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

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The raft of updates will include changes to the car's front wing, bargeboards and suspension elements.

"Understandably the guys were focussed on the '18 car, because they didn't know what '19 held," explained Stroll, speaking to Motorsport.com.

"They certainly didn't have excess funds to be focusing on '19, they had to make parts for '18.

"So we anticipated at the beginning that the first four races would be a little more difficult quite honestly than they have been. Our expectations were lower.

"There will be constant upgrades, we're now going to be like a normal team.

"When we find something that works, we will be manufacturing it as fast as we can – probably not as fast as the big guys, but as fast as we are capable of – and bringing it to the car.

"So Barcelona is for us a substantial step."

Stroll's multi-year investment plan in Racing Point is now unfolding and will include a brand new factory on and around its current Silverstone site.

In the mid-term, the team's design department won't need to hold back when it develops next year's car which will be more representative of Racing Point's strong foundation.

"To be honest, the real start will be 2020," said Stroll. "We're very shortly going to start on the 2020 car, which is a clean sheet of paper.

"This year will always have to be a bit of compromise versus the original design of the car. We're not redesigning the whole car for 2019, we're working with what we have and bringing upgrades.

"Next year is a whole new car. I think it's fair to say that will be the first Racing Point design from scratch, knowing our destiny and future."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.