McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier believes McLaren-Honda can outpace Scuderia Ferrari at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix due to their chassis.
Heading into the sixth round of the 2016 Formula 1 season, Boullier is positive about McLaren’s chances around the streets of Monte Carlo, a circuit that has been said to play to the strengths of the MP4-31.
Last season, Jenson Button scored the Woking outfit’s first points of the championship when he finished eighth; Boullier is expecting both Button and Fernando Alonso to finish inside the points at the Circuit de Monaco.
He told Autosport, “On paper we could be between six and eight, I think.”
It was suggested that they could line up behind Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing but Boullier doesn’t believe Ferrari is a threat.
“Ferrari, not sure. Not sure Ferrari is a threat,” added Boullier. “Red Bull, definitely, Toro Rosso, who have quite a good car, and Mercedes.”
Boullier rates the chassis of the MP4-31 as the third best on the 2016 grid, a position he feels they also held in 2015.
“Last year we were third, but close with Williams and Ferrari,” he said.
“Now it is Mercedes, Red Bull, ourselves, then Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Williams. They are clearly behind now.”
