McLaren racing director Eric Boullier predicts the ailing British team will soon be back fighting at the sharp end of the Formula One grid.

McLaren have endured a disastrous campaign following their renewed partnership with Honda. The Japanese engine supplier has desperately struggled with reliability and performance on their return to the grid and McLaren have scored only a paltry five points from nine races in 2015.

But Boullier expects Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button to challenge the top six once Honda solve the reliability issues which have plagued their season.

“We all know the level of commitment from McLaren – that does not need to be discussed – but the positive is the level of commitment of Honda, and the fact we know that our cars have not tenths but seconds of potential that can be unlocked,” Boullier said.

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“We cannot physically use that because we have reliability issues, but if we overcome those we will be able to make major steps forward, believe me.”

Alonso benefited from a number of retirements at the British Grand Prix to score his first point of the season after finishing 10th.

Button, whose only points-scoring finish of the campaign came in Monaco earlier this year, has failed to reach the chequered flag in the last three races.