Martin Brundle has claimed Formula One is in desperate need for McLaren to return to their place as one of the sport’s traditional title contenders.

The Woking outfit endured one of their worst seasons in their history in 2015, despite having experienced world champions on board in Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.

But a new partnership with Honda, having opted to ditch the glass ceiling of using customer Mercedes engines, started in catastrophic fashion.

The McLaren Honda, driven above by Fernando Alonso earlier in March, has improved in pre-season testing but still looks a long way off the pace of being a car capable of challenging for titles

The world championship pairing of Alonso (left) and Jenson Button struggled throughout the 2015 season

The power unit supplier suffered a severe performance deficit as well as reliability problems in its first season back in grand prix racing since 2008.

THE DOWNFALL OF MCLAREN YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 POINTS 497 378 122 181 27 POSITION 2nd 3rd 5th 5th 9th Advertisement

And Brundle’s sympathy sides with the star talent in the McLaren cars, as the team’s former driver claimed that the sight of two of the grid’s most skilled talent battling for minor points is a huge waste for the sport.

'I find it uncomfortable to watch these two great sportsmen struggling like that,’ Brundle said.

‘It's just painful isn't it? I can't imagine what it's like for them. They're hard-wired to win championships and races. We all need that McLaren.

‘Imagine if McLaren was really on form and we were talking about Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Then you've got a season on your hands, haven't you? We need it.

The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton (right) and Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel are among those expected to lead the way for race wins in the 2016 season which begins in Australia on March 20

Martin Brundle claims Button (right) has coped with McLaren's underachievement better than Alonso (left)

‘They have to make that McLaren work otherwise they have to be a customer team somewhere which we know doesn't work for them.’

Brundle, who recorded two podiums in his sole McLaren season in 1994, also stated that Button has dealt with the under-performance at the team better than Alonso.

For the first time in Alonso’s career, he recorded an inferior points total to his team-mate, with the Spaniard’s terrible luck in 2015 seeing him have to push his car up a hill and into the pit-lane at Hungary, as well as sunbathing on a chair in Brazil after being forced to retire from qualifying.

While Brundle claims the former Ferrari and Renault star is still one of the elite drivers, at 34-years-old he is in danger of becoming a forgotten man as teams begin to look at fresh talent coming through such as last year’s rookie sensation Max Verstappen.

‘I somehow think Jenson can handle it better than Fernando,’ Brundle added.

‘Fernando has got the added misery of the Ferrari going so fast. The car he somehow navigated his way out of, took off the minute he got out of it.

‘Is he going to be fighting with a Manor? Not really is he? Can he be? Can they be fighting a Manor in the early stages of the season? How are they going to cope with that?

McLaren boss Ron Dennis listens as Martin Brundle offers his point of view as a team driver in 1994

Brundle, with David Croft, will be on Sky Sports as a pundit for their F1 coverage over the 21-race campaign

‘I think there are too many young kids coming along now. He’s still an amazing driver – in the top three?

‘When I’m out on a Friday afternoon I can hear Alonso, I can shut my eyes and tell you it’s Fernando Alonso. He’s still got it. I think we will all breathe a collective sigh of relief when McLaren Honda get their act together.’