Virgin look ready to hitch a ride with McLaren to close gap

Pitlane rumours are rife that the Yorkshire team are set to begin a partnership with the big-spending British marque and the axing of technical director Nick Wirth by their major Russian backers, Marussia, has only added fuel to the fire.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh suggested at the Monaco Grand Prix that the three teams that entered the sport last year are still regarded by the top cars as ‘mobile chicanes’.

That further intensified speculation that along with Wirth’s dismissal being a direct response to the perceived failure of his controversial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) testing, Virgin and McLaren were set to get in bed together in a partnership that would suit both teams.

That may still happen next year, with Virgin likely to accept any technical support offered as they seek to cut the pace gap on the midfield teams and McLaren eager to give their championship challengers, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, fewer hazards on the track.

But for now, Booth insists Virgin are sticking with their Cosworth engines and their cost-effective CFD testing. “It’s a story that seems to be gathering pace,” said Booth, whose Dinnington team are in Canada for the seventh grand prix of the season.

“I’ve had a couple of meetings with Martin Whitmarsh on various things but people are putting two and two together and coming up with four and a half. It’s not happening at the moment but I wouldn’t say no to it.”

For any partnership to work – one that would be similar to the Red Bull and Toro Rosso link up – Virgin would still have to remain self-sufficient, especially in what chassis they use, though they could lean on McLaren Mercedes for other parts.

Despite an increase in reliability, Virgin still languish at the back of the grid alongside Hispania Racing and a good two to three seconds adrift of achieving their mid-season target of reaching the second session of qualifying.

Wirth has carried the can for the disappointing start but Booth, who began the project alongside Wirth two years ago when the team was still known as Manor Motorsport, said: “We obviously aren’t anywhere near where we wanted to be.

“We had to take a decision for the good of the team. We are still massive fans of CFD but at the minute who will control that is still up in the air. Hopefully, it will soon become clearer.”

The decision to axe Wirth has cranked up the pressure on Booth and the rest of his Yorkshire team to meet the expectations of their Russian backers. “We are still developing the car, Q2 remains our target but that’s not going to be happening tomorrow,” said Booth. “Marussia are in it for the long haul, they appreciate the challenges we face and are fully supportive.

“Any reassessment of targets would probably see an adjustment of Q2 by the summer break changing to Q2 regulars by the end of the next fly-away races.”

Button is hoping it will be third time lucky on Sunday as McLaren target a winning return.

In the last two grands prix in Spain and Monaco, Hamilton and Button have, respectively, come close to clinching victory.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve situated on the Ile de Notre Dame in the middle of Montreal’s St Lawrence Seaway, is McLaren territory. After finishing second to Hamilton a year ago, Button is hopeful a victory is on the cards as he seeks to close the 67-point chasm to Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ standings.