McLaren says F1 test mileage at Jerez "a huge relief"
Eric Boullier described McLaren-Honda's third day of 2015 Formula 1 testing at Jerez as a "huge relief" after the new car completed its most mileage yet
Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button could only manage six laps each amid myriad problems on Sunday and Monday, but McLaren was adamant it made a breakthrough at the end of the second day.
It proved that was the case by taking to the track immediately when Tuesday's session began, with Alonso completing 32 laps before a water leak forced him to park for the afternoon.
When asked by AUTOSPORT how important it was to begin running straightaway on Wednesday, Boulier replied: "Very important, and firstly a huge relief.
"Last night we were a little bit happier after Jenson's last lap because we believed we had fixed the issues, but sometimes you fix one problem and then another one is coming.
"This morning it was just a relief to see the car get out at nine o'clock and then run faultlessly for a few hours."
Boullier said Tuesday's problem was not related to the electrical issues that had plagued the previous days.
"It was a third-party component that caused a water cooling leak and we had to take the engine off and open everything to change it because it's in the middle," he explained.
"We could have maybe run half an hour at the end, but we decided to stop and do it properly for tomorrow.
"The main issues are now away."
Boullier admitted that McLaren had hoped to get much more done at Jerez, but he said the team was encouraged that elements such as cooling had worked faultlessly once the car was able to do some sustained running.
Asked how much of the team's planned work had been achieved so far, Boullier replied: "Maybe less than 50 per cent.
"But it's better than nothing, and at least operationally we have covered everything we wanted.
"The good thing is the car is running 10 laps in a row, so we have no design, concept or architecture issues with the car."
He also reckons the early signs about car behaviour and handling are encouraging.
"The driver comments were very, very positive," said Boullier.
"Fernando said the car is really reacting well and really stable.
"You could see from the pitwall that the car was stable into Turn 1, and that was when Mercedes was out as well."
Jerez F1 test: Kimi Raikkonen says new Ferrari is a "different story"
Jerez F1 test: Felipe Nasr thinks Mercedes runners hiding true pace
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker? Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Mercedes not “clinging on” to current concepts for 2024 F1 car revamp
Mercedes not “clinging on” to current concepts for 2024 F1 car revamp Mercedes not “clinging on” to current concepts for 2024 F1 car revamp
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Nakajima: Hirakawa McLaren deal not precursor to Toyota F1 return
Nakajima: Hirakawa McLaren deal not precursor to Toyota F1 return Nakajima: Hirakawa McLaren deal not precursor to Toyota F1 return
Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race
Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole
BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker? Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future
Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.