McLaren-Honda is not expecting to see a drastic improvement in its performance at this weekend's Belgium Grand Prix and will instead wait for Singapore to get a true reflection of its upgrades.
Honda will bring a new specification of engine to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, which should see the power deficit to the front-running teams narrow. However, racing director Eric Boullier does not think it will be enough to see a dramatic improvement at the high-speed tracks of Spa and Monza.
"Spa is a truly spectacular circuit - arguably the best on the calendar for many - but, given the unique power and downforce package required, the track won't play to our strengths," he said. "Therefore, of course, we must be measured in our optimism, and we will need to wait for Singapore and beyond before we can see the fruits of our labours reflected on track."
Honda motorsport boss Yasuhisa Arai admitted the team will most likely struggle this weekend and is expecting to take grid penalties for power unit component changes.
"As we planned, Honda has updated our combustion characteristics to further improve our power units for Spa and the second half of the season. This weekend's free practices will be important to test the pairing of the power units to the cars. The Belgian race, however, will surely be a difficult one for the team and drivers, with expected grid penalties and a long and unforgiving power circuit.
"Nevertheless, McLaren-Honda's focus is to improve race by race. We know we can learn a lot from the circuit for immediate future, and hope that we can come out of the weekend with some positives."