Honda will introduce a new-spec engine for the Belgian Grand Prix, with further updates to follow, as it gradually switches focus to performance after working through early reliability issues.

Although Arai concedes that further engine penalties are inevitable over the second half of the season, he reckons there is plenty to come from the McLaren-Honda package.

"Unfortunately we will have more penalties during the coming months, but you will also see big improvements from both sides – chassis and power unit," Arai commented.

"After Spa-Francorchamps we aim to improve every race, and hopefully we can start fighting for podiums. We will never stop fighting in 2015!"

Arai made clear that Honda's ongoing engine development push will naturally carry over to the 2016 season, given the stability in the regulations.

"We're already focused on 2016, of course, but we are still concentrating on the second half of the 2015 season too," he explained.

"We value 2015 as much as 2016 because the regulations will remain the same. This means we can develop an idea for 2016, and if it works we can implement it in 2015."