McLaren-Honda partnership to end “with optimism and respect”

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier insists its final race with Honda will be approached like any other and hopes for a positive end after a frustrating three Formula 1 seasons together.

Having confirmed its split during the build-up to the Singapore Grand Prix, with McLaren switching to Renault power from 2018 with Honda partnering up with Toro Rosso, both parties have remained tight-lipped on the fallout of its relationship over the closing rounds of the season.

With one race remaining in Abu Dhabi both McLaren and Honda are eager for fresh starts next season in F1 while Boullier has reiterated the demand for an unrelenting push for performance to aid its preparations for the following campaign with Renault engines.

“I’m proud of the battles we’ve fought and the achievements we’ve made as team this year, despite the lack of results and their respective influence on the championship table,” Boullier said. “Every member of our team has worked tirelessly to improve our package, race by race, and this weekend will be no exception, as we strive to make the most of every session before the winter shutdown.

“With the relative stability in the regulations between 2017 and 2018, it means a lot of the data we’ve gathered, especially over the last few races, will still stand us in good stead over the winter and help inform the all-important decisions we make on next year’s package.”

Boullier has also given a nod to Honda ahead of its final race together with McLaren with the aim of a final flourish to a difficult partnership.

After announcing its Honda partnership at the end of 2014 the combination has been a disaster with an unreliable and underpowered engine which has seen the team endure its worst F1 results in three decades with the Woking-based team looks set to finish in ninth place in the world constructors’ championship this season.

“I know I can speak for the whole team when I say that each and every one of us embarks on our final grand prix weekend as McLaren Honda in Abu Dhabi with both optimism and respect,” he aid. “Every single person has worked incredibly hard over the past three years and remained committed through the highs and lows we’ve experienced together until the very last race.

“All of us will go into the weekend with exactly the same aim – to work hard and do everything we can to finish the season positively.”

Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa has echoed Boullier’s sentiments and is proud of his squad’s efforts to recover from its nightmare start to 2017 sparked in pre-season testing which forced drastic design and concept changes that saw the team miss out on a points finish until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June.

“Everyone will be fully focussed on extracting the full potential from our package and continuing the momentum we have built over the last few races,” Hasegawa said. “I am incredibly proud of how hard everyone in the team has worked this this season.

“I hope that we can end the year on a high, not just for them, but also for the McLaren Honda fans around the world that have supported us during the last three seasons.”