Boullier 'proud' of McLaren's efforts

Cape Town - Although McLaren are on course to end this season ninth in the championship, Eric Boullier is "proud" of the battles that the team has fought this season. 

This weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix not only marks the final race of the 2017 F1 season but also the last in the beleaguered McLaren-Honda partnership. 

After three trying seasons, McLaren bid farewell the Japanese manufacturer having instead signed with Renault for next season. 

And although McLaren will not likely to finish this championship any higher than ninth in the standings as they trail Haas by 19 points, Boullier says he is still proud of everyone at McLaren-Honda. 

He said: "As we look ahead to the sun setting on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the 2017 season, I’m proud of the battles we’ve fought and the achievements we’ve made as team this year, despite the lack of results and their respective influence on the championship table. 

"Every member of our team has worked tirelessly to improve our package, race by race, and this weekend will be no exception, as we strive to make the most of every session before the close of the season for the winter shutdown. 

"We use every single opportunity on track to evaluate and improve our package and learn valuable lessons for next year, and this weekend will be just as important as ever. 

"With the relative stability in the regulations between 2017 and ’18, it means a lot of the data we’ve gathered, especially over the last few races, will still stand us in good stead over the winter and help inform the all-important decisions we make on next year’s package. 

"I know I can speak for the whole team when I say that each and every one of us embarks on our final grand prix weekend as McLaren Honda in Abu Dhabi with both optimism and respect.

"Every single person has worked incredibly hard over the past three years and remained committed through the highs and lows we’ve experienced together until the very last race. All of us will go into the weekend with exactly the same aim - to work hard and do everything we can to finish the season positively."