Poor McLaren qualifying performance down to downforce compromise

McLaren Formula 1 racing director Eric Boullier says that the team’s poor performance in qualifying was down to having to compensate for the car's struggles in low-speed corners.

Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne both had a disappointing qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix and will start 14th and 15th on the grid, with Boullier comparing the performance to that of the one in Bahrain.

"The car has a weakness this year which we have already pointed out," he said.

"A low speed corner lack of grip. And obviously here you have only low-speed corners. I think the highest speed is 140kph.

"We knew coming here that it would be difficult, a bit like Bahrain characteristic, if you want.

"And to compensate for this lack of low-speed grip, we have to carry more wing, which means more drag.

"The best compromise for our speed level is to run more drag, more downforce, and that’s hurt us."