McLaren chassis now equal to Ferrari - Boullier

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He said it before earlier in the year, but McLaren's Eric Boullier reiterated his claim that the Woking outfit's chassis is now as good as Ferrari's.

Relative weakness at McLaren-Honda has still centered around its power unit. But while the Japanese manufacturer has made steady progress on both the power and reliability fronts, its engine still remains at a fair distance from Mercedes and Ferrari's power unit's.

Boullier contends that if the team had access to more power, it would be fighting on an equal par with its Italian rival.

"We believe our chassis is in the top three – let's say fighting with Ferrari for the third spot," the Frenchman told Motorsport.com.

"Our chassis is aerodynamically efficient. But if you have more power, you can also bring more downforce.

"But more downforce means more drag, which we cannot afford now because we do not have enough horsepower.

“When Honda brings an upgrade, we too can bring a bigger aerodynamic upgrade. That then brings more downforce and drag, and it works.

"But today we have to be very efficient aerodynamically to not penalise ourselves with too slow a top speed."

Next season should put McLaren-Honda in contention for a Grand Prix win, but Boullier remains guarded, well aware indeed of the team's dependency on the work and performance of its engine partner.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.