Videos Live Scores Podcasts Opinion Interviews Business of Sport Inside Story Football Cricket Tennis Formula One Golf NBA UFC UAE Racquet Sports Fitness

McLaren beef up budget to boost next year’s title charge

Ian Parkes

06:22 09/07/2014

McLaren are to operate in 2015 with the biggest budget in the team’s history.

McLaren CEO Ron Dennis confirmed at the start of this season his organisation were digging deeper into their pockets than ever before in order to compete this year, with the figure rumoured to be around £200million (Dh1.2bn).

The Woking-based marque, however, are still considerably off the pace of not just the dominant team this season in Mercedes, but also the likes of Red Bull and Williams.

With Honda due to come on board as power-unit supplier from next year, it is apparent no expense is being spared in order to return to the front.

“We are not in a position where we are struggling to get money, we are perfectly fine, and with Honda coming on board, even more so,” said racing director Eric Boullier.

“For this year we’ve had our biggest ever budget and next year that is going to increase, so there are no worries.”

Such remarks, however, would appear to fly in the face of the FIA’s determination to cut costs, although only minor savings have been announced for next year by the World Motor Sport Council.

“Cost cutting and budgets are different,” insisted Boullier.

“If we want a £500million budget but spend only £100million then that is our problem, so they are different topics.”

Boullier also insists McLaren’s financial well-being means they will continue to be patient with regard to a title sponsor.

Following Vodafone’s withdrawal at the end of last season McLaren were due to announce a successor in December, but nothing materialised.

Earlier this year, Dennis had said a new sponsor would be signed up after the first two or three races, but again nothing has materialised. Asked about the current situation, Boullier replied: “We will announce it when we sign one.

“Obviously we haven’t announced anything because we haven’t finalised anything.”

More from formula-one

ONE Fight Night 22: Turkey’s Hilal Amir has sights set on ONE Championship Gold

From Morocco to Abu Dhabi: Zakaria El Jamari’s incredible martial arts journey

French-Algerian Anissa Meksen gets chance to be first to claim new ONE Championship gold

Adrian Lee’s ONE Championship debut confirmed as he looks to further family legacy

NBA 3X ABU DHABI an unparalleled success with legends LaMarcus Aldridge and James Worthy in attendance

ONE Friday Fights 59: French-Algerian looks to maintain KO momentum in headliner

Most Popular