Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Ron Dennis has played down his team's disappointing form at the Jerez test.

Speaking at a press conference at Honda’s Tokyo HQ, at which the Japanese giant proudly displayed a number of its own legendary (and not so legendary) cars together with numerous title winning McLarens it powered, the Woking boss was keen to play down the negative talk that surrounded a largely disappointing test in Spain last week.

"The first test clearly wasn't as smooth as we would like," Dennis admitted, "but nevertheless we have to stay very disciplined and focus on gathering the data. I think the first thing we should emphasise is that the first Grand Prix where we are going to be measured is in fact Australia."

Indeed, whilst the Woking outfit only completed 79 laps over the course of the four days, this compares favourably with the 21 completed by Red Bull in 2014, the Austrian team subsequently going on to win three races and finish runner-up to Mercedes.

"You don't expect to be at the top of the mountain the day you start climbing," insisted Dennis. "It takes time and you also have to prepare well. We are very much preparing for the climb, and it's going to be a challenging climb but it's a climb that both Honda and McLaren have made several times together.

"We are ready for the challenge and we will have success," he added, "because history shows that Honda always succeeds and the Honda-McLaren partnership in the '80s is something that we intend to reproduce."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Hondawho?, 13/02/2015 13:11

"1. Posted by Spindoctor, 16 minutes ago
@Hondwho - a bit unkind, and factually incorrect. I'll agree that Ron Dennis isn't an inspirational orator, but he has built-up and presided over an incredibly sucessful F1 team, and now a world-leading Sports car maker. Not bad for a "mechanic""

Yes I guess it was a bit unkind, sorry about that, but "Ron Speak" does tend to wind people up..... lots of noise and nothing at the end of it..

As you say, and I can only agree 100%, "Not bad for a mechanic". :-) We wish him well for 2015 and on of course."

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 13/02/2015 12:52

"As an F1 fan, you have to hope that the new Honda\McLaren tie-up works.
Given that Ferrari are looking good (so far) and that RBR\Renault could be making a comeback, 2015 is looking potentially pretty exciting. Ron is, of course right: the 1st GP is in Australia, and until that's happened all bets are necessarily off.

@Hondwho - a bit unkind, and factually incorrect. I'll agree that Ron Dennis isn't an inspirational orator, but he has built-up and presided over an incredibly sucessful F1 team, and now a world-leading Sports car maker. Not bad for a "mechanic""

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3. Posted by Hondawho?, 11/02/2015 16:16

"If you look back to when Mclaren started to use the Ilmor/Mercedes engine it was difficult for them but they won through in the end, many times in fact manufacturer and drivers championships.

I have no doubts about Woking's ability to win, it depends if Honda's requirement is to win quickly, if such a requirement exists. As someone has said ""Honda always succeeds ? ... Ask Button . LOL" however that was at the start of the GFC of course so give them a chance.

Whatever happens, for one I will be watching the team and how they perform in the good and bad times and lets face it, if RD is in charge they will win! (RD is banking on it, and I guess literally so!)"

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4. Posted by petes, 11/02/2015 3:56

".....not to mention money as well......"

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5. Posted by reb, 10/02/2015 22:17

"i don't think any of top teams are worried.i know mclaren is and honda must be ,can't see even winning a race this year and alonso not win for a while infact none of the have .sorry going back to 90s is just cheap old out of date don't count at all..hondas been asleep for a while waking up mite be hard if at all.all the best to them."

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6. Posted by Hondawho?, 10/02/2015 19:58

"My cynical side is telling me Mr Dennis is trying too hard. There are rumours about the factory and the whole McLaren operation. His attempts at rhetoric shows that you can try and take the man out of the mechanic but you cannot take the mechanic out of the man. Stick to what you are good at Ron, running an F1 team and not presentation or oratory."

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7. Posted by GordonW, 10/02/2015 17:24

"Glad to see the five McLaren Honda cars are displayed in their historically correct liveries outside the Honda building - unlike the ones at MTC where the word M******o seems to have been removed."

Dennis: It takes time

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