Dennis statements are 'extra motivation' - Boullier

Jun.7 (GMM) Eric Boullier has defended McLaren supremo Ron Dennis' right to predict forthcoming F1 dominance for the Woking based team.

While the team has improved markedly since its horror 2015, Honda-powered McLaren is still a long way from being able to challenge on merit for podiums, let alone take on the established dominance of Mercedes.

Nonetheless, McLaren Group chairman Dennis recently declared that "the next world champions after Mercedes will be McLaren. We'll get to that goal before other people," he insisted.

But although it raised eyebrows, team boss Boullier said Dennis has the right to make that sort of statement.

"First of all you know what the ambition of McLaren is, and this is what we are targeting," said the Frenchman.

"I think this statement from Ron -- you know he has a great career, he is a legend in formula one and I think it's also an extra motivation for all of us to achieve what we want to," Boullier added.