Eric Boullier was, at last, optimistic. Mclaren’s Thursday is being very useful, seeking to recover the lost time of the first two days in which they did not complete 100 laps. Only counting the session today, at noon and with Vandoorne at the wheel, have exceeded that figure.
So, it seems that the problems of overheating are solved and that the car starts to work as it should: “Finally, there have been no problems in the car, good weather conditions. Our program today we are completing it, we have compressed it to get into some tasks, we are collecting a lot of aerodynamic information and we are doing everything we can to recover time”.
About the problem, which Boullier has described as “stupid“, he takes away the importance: “A piece of only two pounds has made us lose a lot of time. It has not cost us much to solve it because the design of the car is the same and right now it is being driven. Overheating is one of the problems that most cars are having. It’s the first week of testing, nothing more. Yes it is true that there are some markings on the car, but nothing more”, said the race director of Mclaren who has set the objectives for the second week of testing: “Above all we will do race tests. Pit stops. The race tests are going to be the most important thing for next week.”
The problem with the wheel nut on Monday, has also been subject of the press conference, and although Boullier has not given many details on the matter, commented that: “we will study more thoroughly so that this does not happen anymore.”
The season has not started and we are already talking about the possibility of using a fourth engine as a strategy. Three engines can only be used during the season. Boullier does not disclose Mclaren’s strategy: “What makes us better, more competitive, we will always do it. But we are not in this situation yet, we have to see where we are, improve and then see the possibilities. It may be better to use a fourth engine and be penalized. It’s under consideration.”
On the Renault engine, Boullier did not want to enter into comparisons with Honda: “It does not matter right now the time that the Renault engine can give us more. The important thing is the position in which it places us. We want to fight with the cars in front, that’s the important thing”, said the race director of the Woking team that has said it was “very early” to know if they will be up or not.
On possible developments for Australia, Boullier has said the following: “We do not know yet. Almost every race we bring new things and we are working on our concept, but I can not tell you when they will arrive”.