(McLaren Mercedes)
McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier has confirmed that his outfit's preparations for next season's switch to Honda power are 'on target'. Boullier said that the fact that they have year to get ready is an advantage but that the team already have engineers working with Honda in relation to next year's car.
Boullier also believes that with the new regulations in Formula One which were introduced ahead of this season team's need a 'works' engine deal so that they can work on the chassis and engine development alongside one another like the way the Mercedes AMG F1 team have this season. This allows engineers from both sides to work together on finding solutions for fitting the engine.
McLaren will have a 'works' relationship with Honda next season and with the Japanese manufacturer having a base in Milton Keynes it will be easier for McLaren and Honda to work closely together rather then if Honda were working solely from Japan.
The fact that Honda have built a Formula One engine preparation facility in the UK just shows how committed the company is to their return to Formula One with McLaren next season. The company have yet to decide whether or not they will supply a second team from 2016 but for next year they will supply engine's exclusively to McLaren.
Speaking during a McLaren phone in with journalist's Boullier said:
'It takes months, even years, to build it up, so you have a clear schedule in place and some clear tiers to target, So far I think everything is in order and matching the fact that we have until next year to race.
Boullier also revealed that he has already seen a big improvement from the team and is certain that they will have a good car from next season:
'I do have the confidence that we will have a good car from next year, just because we addressed all the issues internally and I believe we made the right changes. We have seen already from Austria the first benefit of the changes we have done in the organisation and now we are heading in the right direction.'
McLaren head to their home race, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone having scored a fifth place finish for Jenson Button at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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