(McLaren Honda)
McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier believes that his team
can exist without a title sponsor in 2015. The Woking based outfit competed in
Formula One in 2014 with a title sponsor following Vodafone’s decision at the
end of the 2013 Formula One season to pull out of Formula One and in doing so
ended their long standing relationship with McLaren which began in 2007.
In 2014, the team ran without a title sponsor but instead
gave their existing partners such as SAP, Mobil 1 and Johnnie Walker more space
on the car. At each Grand Prix the MP4-29 was emblazoned with the logo each
company on the side of the car.
Boullier’s comments come amid suggestions that the Woking based
outfit would have Telefonica company Movistar as their title sponsor this
season with the arrival of Fernando Alonso to the team, however it remains
unclear whether this deal will go ahead or not. Spanish banking giant Santander
will remain with the team in 2015 as well as staying loyal to Scuderia Ferrari
as a primary sponsor despite the fact that Fernando Alonso has returned to
rivals McLaren.
McLaren have a new power unit supplier with Honda returning
to Formula One for the first time since 2008 and Boullier believes that the
Japanese manufacturer’s arrival at Woking is an attractive prospect for any
potential title sponsor.
The Frenchman has also revealed that the team are in no rush
to decide whether or not to run with a title sponsor but the team are exploring
all options and they will pick the one that is best suited to the McLaren brand
if they decide to go down that route at all.
© Ben Johnston 2015
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