BOULLIER REFUSES TO LEAVE HIS POST

McLAREN racing director Eric Boullier has insisted he will not resign from his post despite fresh turmoil sweeping through Formula One’s biggest British team. McLaren’s already troubled season descended into chaos here in France after a whistleblower described the atmosphere at their Woking headquarters as ‘toxic’, branded the team’s hierarchy as ‘clueless’, and revealed staff are rewarded with small chocolate bars for their gruelling work. The management team at McLaren are understood to be furious with the anonymous individual, and Boullier did not rule out taking disciplinary action against the staff member during an animated press conference. Lewis Hamilton’s former team have not won since he left in 2012, and are deep in the midst of their worst run since they started out 52 years ago. Boullier has presided over their torrid spell after he was hired from Lotus in 2014. Yesterday, he attempted to play down the reported turbulence within his team before refusing to take questions over his own future. ‘I will not resign,’ Boullier, 44, said. ‘We are all responsible for the car’s performance. ‘I’ve won races and world championships with every team I’ve managed, before and including Formula One, and this is a record you cannot take away from me.’ Boullier’s defence came after a disgruntled McLaren staff member told Sportsmail: ‘The atmosphere (at the team) is toxic. We would like to go on strike but people fear for their jobs. ‘We have been working all hours of the day, sweating blood, and they give us 25p Freddo chocolate bars.’