CEO Zak Brown claims he has a five-year plan to move McLaren back to the top in Formula 1.

The British team is enduring one of the worst periods of competitiveness in their history as a failed Honda partnership and problems internally have seen them fail to win a race since 2012.

A change to Renault engines in 2018 didn't bring the expected boost either and by the end of the year, McLaren was fighting with Williams at the back of the grid having struggled to develop their chassis.

Brown realised the scale of the situation back in the summer, however, instigating a number of changes including the ousting of Eric Boullier, and is now looking forward to a road of recovery.

“I have presented a five-year plan and within that plan, we think we have a journey to get back to winning races," he claims. "Then once you’re winning races, you’re competing for the championship."

The American does concede though that McLaren can't close the gap by themselves.

“I think it’s critical that Liberty makes changes to the sport because right now, the way the sport is going, it’s difficult for more than two or three teams to compete for the championship," he added.

“There are things that are out of our control, but hopefully we can influence that need to change."

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Another big change will be in their line-up for next year as Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris replace Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

While the Spaniard, joining from Renault, is expecting an improvement from McLaren in 2019, he admits those around them will remain tough to beat.

"Next year we should fear everyone," he was quoted by F1i.com.

"You think about [the improvement by] Sauber, Force India [Racing Point] with a bit more budget, what they could be capable of, Renault, what they are able to do.

"Haas, if they keep getting the amount of Ferrari parts that they are getting and Ferrari keeps dominating [engine development], they should be also very strong.

"McLaren has a whole new project and is wanting to invest and wanting to go back to P4 in the championship after a difficult year.

"[But when] you think about all these teams, you think anyone could lead the midfield battle next year."