McLaren expect a step forward in performance next year with the return of Honda power, despite having what is regarded the best power unit on the grid already in Mercedes.
Racing director Eric Boullier believes the move to becoming a ‘works team’ rather than a customer will bring huge benefits in 2015.
“Having a works engine allows you to play, let’s say, with much more set-up possibilities than if you have a customer engine,” he said on Wednesday.
“We can just take this year’s example, if you just compare Mercedes GP and Red Bull Racing, we all know the Red Bull Racing chassis is very good, maybe slightly better than the Mercedes one, but the big difference between both is that Red Bull has a Renault engine, which is not a works engine.”
Whilst McLaren have the best engine on the grid already, it’s believed Mercedes have held back on developments for the Woking outfit in order to protect their intellectual property from Honda.
Boullier though is confident in Honda’s own development programme and confirmed they’re on target.
“This is a big project, and obviously it takes months, even years to build it up, so you work with a clear schedule in place, and obviously some clear objectives to target,” he added.
“So far I think everything is in order and matching the path we have until the next year first race.”
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