Boullier: McLaren didn't want to finish testing this way

McLaren-Honda is certainly the team with the most work to do before the Australian Grand Prix on March 26 in Melbourne. The MCL32 was the car the least seen on the Barcelona circuit (Spain) since it only completed 425 laps compared to 1095 for the Mercedes W08. This lack of running due to mechanical problems is all the more detrimental as the Honda block is only installed on this F1, unlike the other Power Units on the board.

“We didn't want to end the trials this way, recognized Éric Boullier, Team Principal of McLaren-Honda. The electrical problems encountered last Thursday continued and forced us to make regular changes to identify the cause of these intermittent power losses. »

“Although we suffered during these two weeks of testing, we also learned a lot about the car and we know the problems to be solved, said the Frenchman. It won't be fixed overnight, but we hope that McLaren and Honda can make progress before Australia. »

Honda's 6l turbo/hybrid V1.6 will have only covered 425 laps at the end of winter testing on the Catalunya circuit. In comparison, Mercedes' covered 2679 laps.

Discover the analysis of the second week of F1 testing in Barcelona in AUTO issue 2105hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version, and from Wednesday on newsstands.