McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has said that the team's main aim in 2017 above all else has to be "to win" Grand Prix races - but he admits that it remains a tall order for the once-dominant racing organisation.
"In reality, I want to be pragmatic and not set expectations too high," Boullier told Autosport magazine this week. "We want to win as early as possible, but I'm dealing with the reality."
The team's chief operations officer Jonathan Neale had previously said that the team would be disappointed with fourth place or lower in this year's championship, but Boullier was realistic about McLaren's chances of overhauling Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari at the top of the table.
"We were ninth [two years ago], sixth last year so hopefully we're in the top four next year," he said.
"I'm very happy with the Honda approach and I'm happy with the group of engineers we have in McLaren," he added. "It's working absolutely perfectly now.
"They are working hard, but the days when you can turn up with a new aero kit on the car and gain one second are finished.
"Now it's incremental gains all the time. And it's also just time."
GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Carlos Sainz admits that the Volkswagen group’s success in motorsport – be it with VW,…
Daniel Ricciardo was expecting a ‘clear the air’ talk with Lance Stroll after the latter’s…
Max Verstappen says he respects Adrian Newey’s decision to part ways with Red Bull but…
We’re on the eve of another adrenaline-pumping weekend of action in Florida, with Formula 1's…
Sergio Perez believes Red Bull Racing will be in a great place despite the departure…
Lewis Hamilton has put departing Red Bull designer Adrian Newey at the top of his…