Boullier slams 'disaster' McLaren-Honda partnership

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has criticised Honda for its efforts during its three years as engine partners by calling it ‘a proper disaster’ and ultimately knew the team had to move on at pre-season testing.

After McLaren announced its divorce from Honda to partner up with Renault from 2018 the split seemed amicable between all parties in a carefully chorographed series of announcements that were assisted by Liberty and the FIA.

But speaking to Formula1.com, Boullier has explained how the relationship was stressed to breaking point in Barcelona during pre-season testing.

The McLaren boss says he’s pleased the Woking-based team opted to switch to Renault engines instead of waiting for ‘Honda to wake up’ after its revised engine theory proved unreliable and underpowered during winter testing in Barcelona.

“The crucial moment was after the Barcelona testing when we tried to work and help Honda to improve the situation in a very short time,” Boullier said. “It included having discussions with the other engine manufacturers and without going into details it became obvious that they again would miss the target that we had agreed for the season. Then by the summer we knew that we had to take a decision, to stay or not to stay.

“When you look at the last three years it’s been a proper disaster for us in terms of credibility and getting new sponsors.

“You have to take the long-term view: in the next five years I am absolutely sure that we will go back to where McLaren belongs. And with this bouncing back we get our credibility back and it will rebuild our sponsor portfolio. It might take two to three years.

“We are ninth in the championship – with a top engine I think we would be fourth right now and just on the FOM money we could cover the engine side, so it will not be a big risk on the monetary side.

“Thanks to the shareholders who have been brave enough to take a sporting choice and not hurt McLaren. They could have said, ‘Let’s wait until Honda wakes up’.”

Boullier is confident Fernando Alonso will re-sign for McLaren in 2018 with the boost of the Renault engine deal as it aims to turn around its fortunes by returning to the podium next year.

McLaren’s last appearance on the F1 podium came at the debut race of the V6 turbo hybrid era at the 2014 Australia Grand Prix when Kevin Magnussen finished second and Jenson Button claimed a promoted third place after Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified post-race.