Boullier sure 2017 will reinvigorate F1
McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier has high hopes for the new generation of Formula One cars coming in 2017.
The Frenchman believes the ‘clean sheet of paper’ offers a great chance to his team who have struggled in recent seasons and more so since re-collaborating with Honda at the start of last year.
“I know we can do a very good job,” he told Autosport. “We were pushing for the change because we believe in our capability to deliver a good car, so maybe it’s a way to close the gap even further.”
Boullier even admitted his own surprise at how early development is going and the level of performance already being found.
“It’s a new era. We are at the end of a cycle and you are trying to fine-tune performance everywhere.
“With different aerodynamics next year, with a bigger wing, a bigger floor, when you are used to finding one point a week in the wind tunnel, now you want 10, and it’s ‘wow!’ because every time you try something it’s a massive gain.”
Certainly, 2017 is a key one not just for McLaren but also one of their star driver’s Fernando Alonso.
The double world champion has made it clear the impression the new cars make on him and the style of racing will be crucial as he decides his future.
With the aim of competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours and Indy 500 on the Spaniard’s mind, keeping Alonso motivated in his 16th year in F1 is proving difficult.
But with the characteristics of the 2017 machines set to be very different, Boullier believes every driver on the grid will enjoy their new rides.
“He (Alonso) will be happier, and not only him, but every driver in the pitlane,” he claimed.
“If you tell them tomorrow they will have a car that is four seconds faster, with more cornering speed, they will love it.”
Finally, Boullier was asked to name who he thought would be the biggest threat on the grid, the team that would gain the most from the new rules.
“For me, I’m more scared of Red Bull than any of the others because I know they can develop a car,” he replied.
Certainly, after watching on as Lotus team boss when they were Red Bull’s nearest challenger in 2013, he could be one of the best equipped to make that assessment.