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McLaren Formula 1 team's director of racing, Frenchman Eric Boullier talked about the tough challenge of choosing the right drivers for next season.
Talking to Formula1.com, Boullier said there was still no decision taken yet about the 2015 driver line-up.
“We need a mix of experience and eagerness. In this time of recovery for McLaren I need a boost, so our driver line-up needs to be boosting the team's morale and team's determination to reach as quickly as possible the level where we should be,” Boullier explained.
What would be the benefits of hiring a big name for next season versus those of staying low key in 2015 and then making a big splash in 2016 when the Honda ‘transition year' is over?
“I always said that we are working on the strategy for the coming years - plural - which means we could take on a big name now, or even two big names for next year, or we could stay the same and go for a big name - or again two big names - for 2016.
“We are still assessing what we should do, as it is a big decision that will obviously be driving our success for the medium term. If we take the wrong decision we could be successful in the short term but maybe not in the long term. And we are in the comfortable position of being able to wait. I know that doesn't make it comfortable for Jenson [Button] and Kevin [Magnussen], but I have to think about McLaren first. We also have to see who is on the market in 2015, but also who would be available in 2016 - maybe quite different names would come up then!” Boullier replied.
Eric Boullier admitted that hiring a big name, such as Fernando Alonso, could not be the greatest idea.
“Let's assume we will have a big name next year - or two big names - but do we have the right technical team behind them, the right leadership? Is everything in place? Can we make sure that everything is in place in six months? It's like Russian roulette: you only have one shot! If you bring the big name now and are not ready enough then you start to deliver too late and burn his determination - then what? So what we actually need is a massive boost for the whole system, and if we miss the momentum we will kill everything,” Boullier admitted.
Talking to Formula1.com, Boullier said there was still no decision taken yet about the 2015 driver line-up.
“We need a mix of experience and eagerness. In this time of recovery for McLaren I need a boost, so our driver line-up needs to be boosting the team's morale and team's determination to reach as quickly as possible the level where we should be,” Boullier explained.
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| Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2) |
What would be the benefits of hiring a big name for next season versus those of staying low key in 2015 and then making a big splash in 2016 when the Honda ‘transition year' is over?
“I always said that we are working on the strategy for the coming years - plural - which means we could take on a big name now, or even two big names for next year, or we could stay the same and go for a big name - or again two big names - for 2016.
“We are still assessing what we should do, as it is a big decision that will obviously be driving our success for the medium term. If we take the wrong decision we could be successful in the short term but maybe not in the long term. And we are in the comfortable position of being able to wait. I know that doesn't make it comfortable for Jenson [Button] and Kevin [Magnussen], but I have to think about McLaren first. We also have to see who is on the market in 2015, but also who would be available in 2016 - maybe quite different names would come up then!” Boullier replied.
Eric Boullier admitted that hiring a big name, such as Fernando Alonso, could not be the greatest idea.
“Let's assume we will have a big name next year - or two big names - but do we have the right technical team behind them, the right leadership? Is everything in place? Can we make sure that everything is in place in six months? It's like Russian roulette: you only have one shot! If you bring the big name now and are not ready enough then you start to deliver too late and burn his determination - then what? So what we actually need is a massive boost for the whole system, and if we miss the momentum we will kill everything,” Boullier admitted.