McLaren-Honda racing director Eric Boullier claims the MP4-31 chassis is better than the Ferrari SF16-H, and believes this can help the British team beat the Italian outfit at next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
With the narrow streets of Monte Carlo putting less emphasis on outright power, McLaren has been seen as a contender for a strong result in the Principality, especially after coming off back-to-back points finishes in Russia and Spain.
Talking to Autosport, Boullier reckons his team has the potential to be the fourth fastest squad around Circuit de Monaco. “On paper we could be between six and eight, I think”, the Frenchman said.
However, Boullier does not include the Scuderia in the leading trio of his own Monaco power rankings.
“Ferrari, not sure,” he replied when told that McLaren would thus be slotting behind Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. “Not sure Ferrari is a threat. Red Bull, definitely, Toro Rosso, who have quite a good car, and Mercedes.”
Honda’s travails since its 2015 return to F1 have been well-documented. The Japanese manufacturer has made noticeable progress this year, though Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button remains off the front-running pace.
However, Boullier is confident the last two Peter Prodromou-designed McLaren chassis have been top-three calibre, even more so this season.
“Last year we were third, but close with Williams and Ferrari.
“Now it is Mercedes, Red Bull, ourselves, then Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Williams.
“They are clearly behind now.”
McLaren-Honda scored its first points of 2015 at Monaco, with Button finishing eighth at the world’s most famous street circuit.
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