F1: McLaren still hopes for fifth engine

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier is hopeful Formula 1's Strategy Group will push through plans for each driver to get a fifth engine this season.

With new power-unit supplier Honda struggling since its return to the sport, albeit making incremental gains at each race, the allowance of a fifth engine would be welcome for McLaren.

The proposal to increase the allocation for this season from four to five is expected to be rejected at the next Strategy Group meeting next Thursday. While naturally expressing hope a change to the regulations will be made, Boullier is also realistic enough to understand it is unlikely to happen.

"As far as McLaren is concerned we would be happy to have a fifth engine," said Boullier. "With having a new engine manufacturer in Formula 1 it would be fair to have the same condition as the others when they ran last year. So yes, we are in favor of a fifth engine, but I'm not sure it will be that easy."

Honda motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai is concerned as to the problems that could arise as the season unfolds if the Japanese manufacturer is not allowed a fifth engine. Drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are already on their third engine, while they have also already used three apiece of the turbocharger and MGU-H.

"I hope we will have a fifth engine, of course, although I don't have any information on that from the FIA," Arai said. "If there are four engines then we have to maintain good reliability through the remainder of the races this season. But I have no idea what will happen for the rest of the season if we just used four engines."

Originally on Autosport.com