Failing to pick up a single point this season, McLaren have so far had a
frustrating start to 2017 with reliability problems and an under-powered Honda
engine.
Despite failing to score points in the Spanish GP, McLaren Honda looked
fairly competitive-Fernando Alonso even managed to make it into Q3.
A combination of updates including a new front wing, rear wing , floor
and bodywork aided Alonso's seventh place.
Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa hopes that unique characteristic of the
circuit that makes it less reliant on outright power can provide McLaren a
chance to attack for points.
With Fernando Alonso skipping the Monaco GP to compete in the Indy500,
McLaren have brought Jenson Button back for a one-off race return.
Jenson too feels that new updates may be the key to McLaren's success this weekend.
Jenson too feels that new updates may be the key to McLaren's success this weekend.
McLaren realising that this is probably their best shot at scoring good
points, are keen to ensure a trouble-free weekend.
Racing director Eric Boullier told Motorsport.com about
the positive updates (in Spain) and said the second part of the package will
debut in Monaco:
We have restructured and rebuilt the team and now it is working and operating very, very well. You can see the results: and our correlation rate is unbelievable.In Spain we brought a new front wing, new bodywork, new floor, and new rear wing and it is correlating 95 percent. And with this year’s new regulations meaning there are big gains every time you work in the wind tunnel or CFD, we see big potential still.So what we had on the car [in Barcelona] was the first part of the package and the second part will be in Monaco. It has allowed us and Fernando to step up into this midfield pack – and this is a fact not fantasy
In other
news, McLaren have once again committed themselves to Honda engines for 2018.
Despite a rocky few years with Honda, McLaren are keen to keep their head down
and try again.
Had
McLaren given up on Honda engines and decided to once again put a Mercedes
engine in the back of their car, it would go against the very reason they made
this move. Besides no team has managed to win with a Mercedes engine other than
the Mercedes team.
Financially,
Honda was McLaren’s most logical choice considering that fact that Honda pays
half of the driver salary bill, provides sponsorship contribution and provides
engines for free which would otherwise cost about €17 million
If
McLaren do fail to give Alonso a car capable of winning races, they will
witness his departure.
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