McLaren can feel Ferrari's prancing horse breathing down its neck as the battle for the final spot on F1's podium intensifies between the two teams, but the papaya squad is determined to hold its own against its rival.
Only 3.5 points separate the two outfits in the Constructors' standings ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix which will mark the start of a crucial and grueling triple-header that could make or break either team's 2021 ambitions.
But McLaren has been outscored by the Scuderia in the last two races, with the Italian outfit's performance clearly gaining momentum.
"With only five races left of the season, we know that every race counts and that there’s no time to let down our guard," said McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl.
"We know it will be a challenge to retain our position in the Constructors’ Championship, but it’s a challenge we’re ready for.
"We’ll maintain our focus on the variables we can impact and keep up the pressure on those around us."
F1 teams return to Mexico City after a two-year absence, but the challenges associated with the high-altitude venue are familiar to all.
"Mexico offers a unique challenge in terms of set-up that can often shake up the competitive order," added Seild.
"The high altitude and thinner air mean we run higher levels of downforce than we usually might on a circuit like Mexico, and that can be tricky to get right.
"We've been working in the simulator to ensure we have as much data as possible heading into the weekend."
Daniel Ricciardo, who clinched pole at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 2018, is looking forward to his trip to Mexico, even if the Aussie is unsure where McLaren will figure in the running order.
"I'm looking forward to heading back to Mexico, it's been too long," said Danny Ric.
"The atmosphere is always incredible and that stadium section is an awesome part of the circuit. The fans are also some of the most passionate in the world.
"We're really lucky to be racing there and in Brazil back-to-back, because the excitement around the races is unreal.
"I'm expecting a similar battle to the one we had in Austin, although having not raced there last year, it's hard to say where we'll truly be in terms of performance.
"We'll just keep focusing on what we can do as a team, try and score the most points as possible and see how the field shakes out."
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