McLaren believes wins are possible during 2014 F1 season
McLaren has vowed to fight back into contention to win grands prix later in the Formula 1 season
Since finishing second and third in the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren has scored only 10 points in the next three races, culminating in its dismal run to 11th and 13th in China.
But racing director Eric Boullier is confident about planned upgrades for the Spanish GP and subsequent races that will allow it to tackle its downforce deficit.
"We have to believe we will win a race," said Boullier.
"A lack of downforce is obviously hurting us when we have very hot track conditions, or very cold like we had in China and there is a technical reason for that.
"What is happening in the team is [making us] very confident and we will be able to keep pushing on a very aggressive and strong development [path] through the whole season.
"We will put ourselves in a position, maybe not in the first part of the season, but maybe later, to fight for a win."
Boullier stressed that the team will not use the imminent return of Honda as engine supplier for 2015 as an excuse to write off the season.
He also pointed out that the team cannot allow itself to plumb the depths it did last year, when it had only 23 points after four races compared to its current haul of 43 and went on to finish only fifth in the constructors' championship.
"You cannot afford to let yourself think that way in motor racing," he said.
"The 2013 season should be a benchmark year for us never to do it again.
"2014 should be seen not as a transition year, but of rebuilding a winning team.
"We have this extra challenge to work very efficiently with our partner Mercedes, but later in the year to start to implement the Honda arrival."
Previous article
McLaren says Magnussen's difficult run part of F1 learning process
Next article
Romain Grosjean: Lotus now second-best of Renault Formula 1 teams
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...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
