'No cracks' in McLaren-Honda Formula 1 partnership, says McLaren racing director Eric Boullier

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has vehemently denied there are cracks in its Formula 1 alliance with power-unit supplier Honda. There have been suggestions of frustration on McLaren's part, at Honda's slow and rigid working practices, and of the latter's refusal to seek help from overseas influences who have already worked on the engine formula.

There was even talk before the recent Japanese Grand Prix of a crisis meeting involving Boullier, McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis and Honda executives. But a defiant Boullier told Autosport: 

"There was no crisis meeting. And as for things deteriorating, that is simply not true to be honest. At every level of the McLaren-Honda organisation, in engineering, technically, there is an absolute, one-team cohesion. At management level there is the same, albeit the pressure is higher because we need to deliver. Obviously for both McLaren and Honda we can't stay where we are, we can't cope with this level of performance, but while there is pressure, there are no cracks."