Honda expect to fight Mercedes next year

McLaren Honda is expecting to be able to challenge Mercedes next year.

After a disastrous first season last year, Honda has made big strides forward in 2016, and they hope to fight at the front of the field next season.

"Next year we are equal to Mercedes in horse power," Honda's F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa is quoted by the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier agreed: "We are ready, more than ever, to win."

"We have been working hard on our new concept that we believe in. It took Red Bull seven years and Mercedes five," he added.

"If you take the average of all the races (in 2016) then we are at Ferrari's level in terms of the chassis. Red Bull and Mercedes are better, but we are best of the rest."