Eric Boullier happy with "hard-earned" McLaren points

McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier looks on in the paddock during day one of Formula One testing at Yas Marina Circuit on November 25, 2014
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Eric Boullier praises the efforts of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso during Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.

Eric Boullier has expressed his delight with the performances of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso at the Russian Grand Prix.

Button finished ninth in Sochi, while McLaren teammate Alonso came home 10th, although the Spaniard later dropped out of a points-scoring position after receiving a post-race penalty.

However, Boullier is adamant that his drivers produced a strong performance on a track not suited to their cars.

He is quoted by F1i as saying: "Rarely, if ever, have two world championship points been harder earned or more richly deserved, for Jenson and Fernando both drove the wheels off their MP4-30s.

"[The circuit] isn't one that suits our car well, and our boys duly found it difficult to defend their positions on the straights in particular.

"But they didn't put a foot wrong all afternoon, finishing ninth and 10th on the road, and I'm delighted that, as a result, we were able to score another points finish, even though sadly Fernando later lost his 10th place in the stewards' room."

McLaren remain ninth in the constructors' championship, despite Button's top-10 finish in Russia.

Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 24, 2015
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