Fernando Alonso says Honda has been invigorated by McLaren's recent form, something he believes will help it find the "bigger step" needed to be a race-winner in 2017.
McLaren has scored five top-eight finishes in the last six races, having promised after the summer break to finish the season as best of the rest in terms of pace behind Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. Ahead of Honda's home race in Japan this weekend, Alonso thinks there are plenty of reasons to be encouraged.
"We are happy with the progress we made this year and definitely we are able to fight with some competitive teams there, like Force India, Williams," he said. "We've finished four times seventh, after the top teams, in the last five races, so it's definitely a step forward and we are enjoying this process of starting to be competitive.
"But looking at next year I don't think we can see anything that is clearly positive or negative. I think everything will change massively. We need to work and be very focussed on next year's car in a way now that is only theoretical, simulators, windtunnel numbers and dyno numbers, etc. I don't think the performance of the actual car is a reference for next year. So that's one thing... We want to be more competitive next year.
"A big step has been done from last year to next year, but we need another bigger step for next year which is going from the last Q3 spots and some points to fighting for podiums and wins. I think it's still possible, we have the potential, we have the facilities, we have talented people. This project is, as we've said many times, a question of time when we will be able to win. We are trying to make it as quickly as possible.
Alonso says the recent results have given Honda added motivation as it targets a winning car under 2017's radical rule changes.
When asked to compare Honda to his experiences with Renault and Ferrari, he replied: "I found it very interesting from day one, working with Honda. I think the philosophy and approach they have to racing in general, and in some extent to life, is interesting. I'm a big fan of Japanese culture and traditions and I think they translate that into racing philosophy. They've been following their programme -- sometimes for us, sportsmen or fans, it's frustrating as we want everything now, or tomorrow, but there's not this magic solution in Formula One, everything needs some time.
"But they are doing their job and doing the maximum. They are following their times...Everything made in Japan, only with Japanese people, and it's their mission, so I'm very proud to be part of this project since day one. And now the results are coming I think they are more motivated and starting to be more creative in terms of design and progress."
Alonso also confirmed he will be running the upgraded Honda power unit he took on Friday in Malaysia, before switching back to the old specification in order to avoid taking a penalty at Suzuka. However, the Spaniard said the upgrade was for reliability and has "has exactly the same power" as the old specification Jenson Button will run.