Tuesday 24 June 2014

McLaren hoping for big step forward with the arrival of Peter Prodromou from Red Bull

(McLaren Mercedes)

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis believes that the early arrival of Aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou who will join the Woking based outfit from rivals an reigning world champions Red Bull Racing will provide McLaren with 'a big step forward for 2015'. It was announced earlier this season that McLaren had managed to lure Prodromou to the team when his contract expired with Red Bull at the end of 2014 with him joining the team in January 2015.

However Dennis, who has return to the helm of the McLaren Formula One team working alongside Racing Director Eric Boullier has revealed that his team have struck a deal with Red Bull Racing that will see Prodromou join McLaren in September this year.

Dennis revealed:

'We've got Peter Prodromou joining us in September so that will be a big step. It will bolster our revitalised aero team, so I'm not concerned about aero performance next year, it will come right.

The McLaren chief that he expects the team to have a steep learning curve when they reunite with Honda from next season but is confident that in time their partnership with the Japanese manufacturer will yield results similar to the one's the pair achieved during their last time together from 1988 - 1992.

Dennis also revealed that despite the imminent arrival of Honda his team have not given up on their 2014 campaign despite their difficult start to the season. In the eight Grand Prix of the season the team have scored just two podium finishes which came at the first race of the season in Melbourne, Australia where Kevin Magnussen finished 2nd with Jenson Button finishing in third place.

The Woking team are now in 6th place in the Constructors championship following the Williams Martini Racing Team's 3rd and fourth place finish last time out at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Dennis said:

'We never write anything off. We're going to fight until the last grand prix, that's in the nature of the team. It's certainly not a write off. I'm very much aware of what's coming down the road and we've just got to get developments on the car.'

The team will be hoping for a strong result at the next Grand Prix, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone which is the team's home event. Before Silverstone however, their is the small matter of the Goodwood Festival of Speed where McLaren driver Jenson Button will be action over the course of the weekend.

© Ben Johnston 2014

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