- McLaren
McLaren plans 'aggressive' development to fight for wins
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier still believes his team will win a race this year despite its recent struggles.
McLaren has failed to score a point at the last two races after starting the year with two cars on the podium at the Australian Grand Prix. Mercedes has looked utterly dominant throughout the first four races, but Boullier is not giving up hope of a victory once McLaren starts to ramp up development.
"We still believe we will win a race," he told the McLaren-Mercedes phone-in. "If you look at in detail it looks like we are slipping back since the beginning of the season. It's true that Australia was a bit optimistic, but it also prepared us to be ready to pick up point or even podiums from the others.
"Definitely I made it clear that the lack of downforce is not helping us when you have very hot conditions or very cold, like we had in China, but there is a technical reason for that. What is going on here in Woking is very positive, but I think we will be able to keep pushing and bring a very aggressive and strong development over the course of the season. I think if we put ourselves in a position, maybe not in the first part of the season but later, we may be able to fight for a win, I hope so."
McLaren will bring a big upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix in three weeks, and Boullier said the team is confident it will accelerate its development over the coming races.
"Spain will see an interesting upgrade on the car, but everything is planned already from now until Silverstone. Every race will see a different upgrade and different package, so we can forecast any upgrade until Silverstone. We have picked up a very good rate of development in the windtunnel up to then. So it's just up to us to manufacture the parts and get it on track."
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