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Eric Boullier has admitted Fernando Alonso's future could depend on the competitiveness of the McLaren-Honda package in 2017.
On the face of it, the Anglo-Japanese collaboration is set for a third consecutive tough campaign as Honda grapples with the new design of its power unit.
"I see faces of anguish and desperation as they are missing more than 100 horse power and 30kph on the straights, and they will not recover easily, if at all," former McLaren team manager Jo Ramirez told Cadena Cope.
"The concept is better than they had before, but I cannot believe they are so short on power," he added. "I think Honda are a little lost."
Indeed, rumours that either Honda will quit F1 or McLaren will dump the Japanese marque are already circulating. Team boss Boullier told the Spanish daily AS that the McLaren chassis is "good".
"I don't know if the engine will be able to compete with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, but if we have a good engine we can be competitive. Otherwise not, it's that simple," said the Frenchman.
As for Alonso's expiring contract, the fact the Spaniard recently said he will race beyond his 2017 deal has been interpreted by some as an invitation for other teams to tempt him away from McLaren-Honda.
"People say a lot of things," said Boullier, "but I think Fernando is being honest with us just like we are with him. He likes this new F1, and the next step is to be more competitive. If we are competitive, he will be happy."
As for whether talks about 2018 have started, Boullier answered: "Yes, but it's too soon. But of course we have spoken."
Boullier was also asked how many times he has wondered where McLaren would be in the pecking order if it had stayed with Mercedes power beyond 2014: "Let's just say a few times," he laughed. Asked if McLaren would be winning races, Boullier added: "I think so. Yes, we would be winning again."
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (5)
Login to replyMr N71
Posts: 31
It can't be more than 100 hp and it is,t over 30km/h. Last week McLaren said the Honda PU Was 80 hp after last year PU witch was 80 hp after the others in 2016. So that makes the PU 160 HP weaker than the other brands. It's also a Lie. On the tests McLaren was only 2,5 km/h (two point five) after Toro Rosso in the speed trap week one. The McLaren /Honda conflict sounds exatly the same as the Red Bull/ Renault conflict. And to me it sounds like it equal part issues with the chassis/car as with the engine just like it was with RBR/Renault. Perhaps it's the abandoned of the fake-FRIC system that mclaren suffering from and on the engine side if the car is to narrow and dont provide enough cooling air to the engine the engine going up in smoke no mater if it is Combustion engine or electrical. 400 Volts makes a lot of heat. An the vibrations from the gearbox? McLaren make their own gerbox like many other F1 teams.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
The talk was about unsustainable vibrations. Thats an ICE issue, coming from misaligned CNC work from their tool chains. This shouldn't be coming from a group of veteran engineers who do everything the Japanese way with meticulous efficiency. Makes you wonder if interns are doing some tasks
Mr N71
Posts: 31
What I have heard @MCLARENFAN1968 the vibrations didn't existed at the Honda factory when the engines was tested in the bench. One should be aware of there's two sides on a coin and lots of politics. I don't know what's true or not. I can only do my own calculations about what fact given to us.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
I didn't say it was definitive, just what the rumors had it. Regardless the problems they are facing and how long they take to even diagnose it shows serious problems on how and who might be doing low level tasks.
Mr N71
Posts: 31
What I was trying to say where the the horsepower output can't be more than 30 hp max. And Alonso where complaining during the tests that he couldn't get the power in to the ground after the corners, the wheels was just simply spinning and the car sliding. The Honda engine works just fine in the factory as did Renault in 2014 it's when put in the car the problems begins and so it can't be a engine problem alone. And it doesn't look good, sound good or make the business co-operation any better if Alonso and Boullier whining to the press all the time. "be a pot and call the kettle black"