Winner Ayrton Senna (BRA) McLaren MP4/4 Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, 12 June 1988. © Sutton Images
The Woking-based team will revive one of the most famous associations in F1 history next year when they switch to Honda power, and given their previous relationship with the Japanese company - they won four drivers’ and constructors’ championships and 44 Grands Prix together between 1988 and 1992 - McLaren are seen as an attractive proposition for many drivers.
Their driver line-up remains undecided, however, with rookie Kevin Magnussen having only joined the team at the start of the year and Jenson Button’s current deal set to expire at the end of 2014.
“It is a question where I cannot say yes and I cannot say no,” Boullier told a McLaren Mercedes phone-in when asked if they intend to retain the Briton, who has raced with the team since 2010, winning eight times.
“We are lucky to have two drivers who want to commit to us for the future. We have some contractual options we can pick up, so we are not in a rush to decide our future driver line-up.
“We are evaluating and assessing every strategy for the future.”
Asked whether the team were still nurturing Magnussen, Boullier added: “Even after Austria I was in his room just to have a chat with him. You know, you need to balance the freedom you give them with making sure they feel the support they need to develop as a driver.
“I still monitor [the situation] carefully.”
McLaren have changed their driver line-up every season since Lewis Hamilton’s departure, bringing in Mexican Sergio Perez for the 2013 campaign and then replacing him with Magnussen, the reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion and a McLaren protege, this year.