Q: Eric, should McLaren hire an exorcist to drive away all these bad vibes? Both cars out in Monaco, Fernando out in Indianapolis… it looks like a bad spell...

Eric Boullier: Ha, do you want to apply for the job? We can make a special deal: you get a big bonus if you are able to change our situation with whatever hocus-pocus! If not – then sorry, no money. Is that a deal?

Q: Zak Brown said in an interview lately that the relationship between McLaren and Honda is approaching a fork in the road. How far could a parting of ways be?

EB: We have never been so close to that fork. The performance went backwards. We have the support from our executive committee to sort this out because we can't go on like this – going backwards. Like any professional organisation you sit down and say 'we have to speak about targets, speak about commitment' – and we can't miss targets constantly. That is where the fork on the road comes from.

Q: There is a board meeting of Honda in Japan this weekend. What do you expect from it? The situation here will surely be a topic…

EB: We can't discuss this. There are board meetings frequently – and this one is not all about F1. But for sure F1 is a board meeting matter: we've signed with Honda Motor Corporation.

Q: How much of a set-back is it for you not knowing when engine updates will be available? There was one planned for this weekend, only for it to be postponed... And does that affect car development?

EB: This is totally separate. Our own development programme is totally independent from the engine side. We were expecting an engine update for this weekend – and all the discussions we have now are the result of not having it.

Q: There is a belief that the McLaren chassis is very good - that you have done your homework. Is that adding to the disappointment?

EB: It's not about disappointment. It is about frustration. When you don't have results at a team like McLaren – and part of the journey I was hired for was to deliver a winning chassis – that is frustrating. But it was never only developing an excellent chassis but also developing the company and despite all the stories around us, the poor performance on track and so on, we have an excellent spirit in the team. As I just said it is not about disappointment, but all about frustration. There is a point now where we need to have the same commitment and efficiency from our partners.

Q: To make things better Honda hired Mario Illien – at least according to Red Bull, where he was employed before. What do you expect from his input?

EB: I can't comment on any of their management decisions. I am happy to hear any such rumours as it might help them to overcome their problems – but honestly this is a question for Honda to answer.