With McLaren having one of the better chassis in the field last year, many though that the Formula 1 team would do better this year as they abandon the Honda power unit which lacked power. However, after nine races, the British outfit has scored just 44 points for the Constructor championship and is in sixth place, behind both Haas as well as Renault’s works team.

According to Autosport, the CEO, Zak Brown believes that new regulations have forced this year’s McLaren-Renault to lose downforce

'We don’t have the same level of downforce this year that we had last year. So we have identified an area in which our car this year is weaker than last year’s car.'

“Did we have the best chassis last year? No, definitely not. Did we have probably a better chassis? I think because of all the different variables it would be hard to definitively say yes or no, but we know we have less downforce this year than last year.”

Sadly, Brown then went on to add that the team is not expected to do better anytime soon.

'Realistically, this is going to take some time to fix, so I think we are years away. I don't know if that’s two or 10 or somewhere in between, probably more like somewhere in between, but I don’t want to get into predictions.'

Despite the bleak news, Brown insist that the team has not given up will continue to do its best.