One-time world beaters McLaren, last season’s spectacular no-hopers, deserved a kick up their backs.

And that’s the outspoken opinion of their own team boss, Martin Whitmarsh, who has struggled to maintain any momentum or morale as his outfit sagged as also-rans.

His hapless team suffered their most disastrous season in 33 years without a single podium finish. A total embarrassment if ever there was one.

Nice guy Whitmarsh, who took charge after tough-nut Ron Dennis quit to go into the road-car sales business-side of McLaren, has retained 2009 champion Jenson Button for the upcoming campaign, but has offloaded his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez.

Not only that, he has made crucial changes among the backroom staff behind the scenes.

“Failure is a painful thing – but a kick up the pants is sometimes needed personally — and our operation needs it,” said an embarrassed Whitmarsh.

Button, who finished a dreadfully disappointing and unacceptable halfway down the drivers’ championship, registered a fourth place as a best result and 17th as his worst in a campaign he will be anxious to forget.

“We haven’t done a good enough job,” confessed Whitmarsh. “And the fact is that if the wheels fall off it is my fault. If the car is not good enough, it is my fault. If the drivers makes a mistake, it is my fault.”

Rumours were rife that Whitmarsh could be kicked out of his job, and he admitted: “Change is essential in any organisation whether it is at the top of its game or not.”

However, his assurances, allied to the forthcoming re-tie-up with Japanese engine giants Honda, their previous partners, has given Button fresh hope.

And he, having clearly swallowed his disappointment in the light of the possibilities of victories offered by the Honda 2015-season deal, this week insisted he is not about to quit.

He is, after Kimi Raikkonen, the second oldest driver on the grid, but he disputes any notions that as a 33-year-old he should head for Formula One’s exit.

“No way,” is his retort, “I have so many years ahead of me, it is important to think about my continuing future in F1 right now.

“What I need to do in the car is to be sure I am the fastest.”

That is easier said than done. If McLaren fail, as they did so appallingly last season, to seat him in a car to match his undoubted skill and ambition.

— The author is an expert on motorsport based in England