McLaren have issued a strong-worded statement in response to former team principal Martin Whitmarsh criticising the leadership at Woking and calling for change.

Last weekend, the former chief, who left the team in 2014, gave an interview with the Daily Mail, in which the article added that staff were prepared to "revolt" against CEO Zak Brown and racing director Eric Boullier after their underwhelming performance in Canada.

Both Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne floundered towards the back of the midfield in Montreal, with the Spaniard going on to retire from his 300th race with a mechanical issue, the second car failure in two events.

It continued what has been a disappointing year despite a respectable start, with frustration more about the inability to close the gap on the top three teams.

Still, in the statement read out on Sky Sports F1, McLaren rebuked their former boss and insisted the team was strong collectively.

“Martin worked for McLaren for many years, but has been outside the business for some time and is not part of our future,” it read.

“What he said was ill-judged and ill-informed in our view but he is entitled to his opinion.

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"There are high expectations in the team and we won’t compromise those high expectations.

“Everyone at McLaren is working tremendously hard and is focused on the future, not the past.”

Recently, Whitmarsh was seen back in the McLaren garage as a guest, and has said that his "door is open" to a return should the team want him.