McLaren team boss Eric Boullier says the team will not ease up in its development push in the second half of 2016 as it looks to close up to the front of the pack.
McLaren remains a long way off the class-leading Mercedes outfit but has made a definite step forward from 2015, with regular Q3 appearances and points finishes. Boullier believes McLaren's rate of development this season has surpassed any of its rivals as it continues to close the gap to the front.
The team is hoping to capitalise on next year's regulation changes to return to the front but Boullier says that does not mean it will stop pushing for results this season.
"We are now just over halfway through, and ready to fight again to achieve our end-of-season goals," Boullier said. "The midfield pack is particularly close, and each team is stronger on different circuits, so there'll be no let-up in in how hard we push or the developments we bring to the car in our bid to continue our progress through the rest of the season and into next year."
Boullier thinks every new part brought to the current package will serve as a good lesson for the new-look 2017 cars.
"Together, McLaren-Honda is continuing to push hard, and everything we bring to the car -- be it on the chassis or power unit side -- is valuable learning for next year. We've enjoyed a couple of weeks away from Formula One, but our ambition is as strong as ever, and we're definitely ready to go racing again!"