Battle with Force India pushed McLaren into action

(Sahara Force India Formula One Team)

McLaren Honda Racing Eric Boullier believes his team’s battle with the Sahara Force India Formula One Team in 2014 was a real wake up call.

The Woking based outfit suffered a difficult 2014 campaign, which yielded just two podium finishes which came at the season opening Australian Grand Prix, when Kevin Magnussen finished the race in second place while Jenson Button finished the race in third place.

Boullier stated:

‘Being behind Force India was a concern and real wake up call for everybody.’

McLaren went on to finish the season in fifth place in the championship, 26 points ahead of Force India. Boullier believes that the team cannot complain about how they performed in 2014 as they had the best power unit on the grid with Mercedes.

Speaking about next year Boullier, who has overseen a multitude of changes at the team since his arrival from the Lotus F1 Team in January 2014 the Frenchman stated that he believes that the team looks ‘Ok’. McLaren go into next season with a new power unit as Honda return to Formula One as a power unit supplier for the first time since they supplied their own ‘works’ team in 2008.

The Woking based outfit also have a new driver with Fernando Alonso joining Jenson Button at the team.

The team have also seen Peter Pedromou return to the team following his departure from Infiniti Red Bull Racing where he was Chief Aerodymnacist. Pedromou has taken up the role of Chief Engineer at McLaren.

The team are hoping to hit the ground running with the new chassis, the MP4-30. 

© Ben Johnston 2014