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McLaren insists it will not undersell its title sponsorship space and could, if necessary, continue to exist without a major backer.

Since Vodafone's title sponsorship deal expired at the end of 2013, McLaren has been on the search for a replacement. Initially it planned to announce a new deal at the end of 2013, but then went the full length of 2014 without a title sponsor in place.

Asked about when - or if - a new deal would be put in place over the winter, racing director Eric Boullier said there was no rush.

"People want to know dates, but we don't need to [say]," Boullier said. "It sounds arrogant, but I promise you it's not, we can afford to run without a title sponsor; that's a privilege. We want it because it's another step we can go and we have many projects we would like to do, but to be honest, today, we can afford to run without.

"I'm not saying we don't want one, we want one and we still have some stuff to do. Let's have the right one at the right moment. We will not go like other teams, let's say, and go cheap."

Boullier believes the arrival of Honda as the team's engine supplier in 2015 has made McLaren more attractive.

"It is because people who do their due diligence know how serious McLaren is and how serious Honda is. Everybody knows that and there will be enough resources and everything in place for it to be successful."

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