McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says Honda needs to keep up its recent momentum to help the team be competitive in 2017.
After two years off the pace, McLaren has a chance to close the gap to the front runners as a result of new aerodynamic regulations next season. Wider tyres and fewer development restrictions regarding power units also open up opportunities for the teams, but when asked if the 2017 regulations provide the chance to erase Mercedes’ advantage in one go, Boullier told F1i: “No, but we believe and we hope that it is going to reshuffle the order a little bit, but I don’t think it’s going to be a big, big change.
“In some ways it is going to … not put everybody back to the same level, it’s not a clean sheet of paper, but still it is a new start for everybody.”
And Boullier is unwilling to predict if McLaren can target victories next season, saying the progress of Honda is crucial to its hopes of fighting at the front again.
“You are asking me to read into a crystal ball … Again the change in regulation is big enough that we don’t know what the others will have done and I need Honda as well to keep this momentum and step up because otherwise we will slip behind the other three engine manufacturers.
“As long as we catch up then I’m fine, but we need to catch up and then we are more or less in the ballpark then we will see what we do. But yes I believe McLaren will be a good place.”
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