Eric Boullier: Fernando Alonso will challenge McLaren-Honda F1 team
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier reckons his Formula 1 team will face a challenge in managing new signing Fernando Alonso's expectations

Alonso's return to McLaren from F1 rival Ferrari was confirmed on Thursday, when the Woking team revealed that it would retain 2009 world champion Jenson Button as Alonso's team-mate for 2015.
Boullier agreed the capture of double world champion Alonso represented a significant coup for the new McLaren-Honda partnership, but admitted it would be tough to manage the Spaniard's competitive desire while the project gets up to speed.
"I know it's going to be challenging, [but] you have to take it as a huge positive," Boullier said.
"This is the kind of commitment and dedication you want.
"We gain the best driver in the world today, and to have convinced Fernando to stop his last two years of contract with Ferrari to join us, that means a lot for me.
"It means he believes in what we are building.
"Clearly he's going to challenge us every day. To be honest with you, he's texting me every day already!
"He's really on it. This is the kind of boost we were looking for."
Alonso's last tenure at McLaren in 2007 ended in an acrimonious split, something Alonso admitted this week was the biggest regret of his career.
Boullier said he foresees no such trouble when Alonso pairs up with Button next year.
"I think both these drivers are mature enough to be easy to manage," Boullier added.
"The problem we may face, which is a nice problem to have, is to manage them on-track.
"Off-track, I think it's going to be easy."

Previous article
McLaren-Honda F1 team embarks on 'recovery plan' after test trouble
Next article
McLaren's 2015 Formula 1 car passes crash tests

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Fernando Alonso |
Teams | Honda Racing F1 Team , McLaren |
Author | Ben Anderson |
Eric Boullier: Fernando Alonso will challenge McLaren-Honda F1 team
Trending
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The German legend who raced and beat Nuvolari
Ninety years ago, Rudolf Caracciola became the first non-Italian to win the epic Mille Miglia. We look at how he stacks up to the most famous pre-war ace Tazio Nuvolari, one of the drivers he beat on that day in 1931
How 2021's midfielders have taken lessons from F1's top teams
Formula 1’s latest Imola adventure turned into an expensive trip for many teams due to several crashes throughout the weekend. While balancing the books is an added factor in 2021 with the cost cap, a few midfield teams have cashed in early on development investments
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...