McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the back of the grid, as a result of a string of Honda engine problems that have plagued them all season long.
Both drivers have already used more than the sanctioned number of of power unit parts after seven rounds. Alonso’s penalties amount to a drop of 15 places on the grid and Vandoorne 30.
Alonso told reporters in Baku, “We try to go through the weekend in the best way possible, perform the best we can but there are some things out of our control.”
“It will be like this all season long. We used already the maximum engines that we are allowed in the first seven races and now we will start last in a couple of other races.”
“That will make things even more difficult but it is the way it is and we can’t do anything other than perform at our best,” added the Spanish double F1 World Champion.
Ahead of the weekend, both Alonso and Vandoorne have already used five MGU-Hs this season, while only four are permitted for the 21 race championship.
Honda have new engine components to be tested during free practice in Baku, but Vandoorne is not sure how effective the parts will be, “Difficult to say, to be honest. I think probably more a question for Honda. I don’t think it will be too different.”
The team’s woes continue, without an end in sight, amid talk that McLaren have already decided to part ways with Honda.
Vandoorne acknowledged, “We are trying to put McLaren’s interests at the top. We need to fight back. I am pretty sure the team is moving in the right direction and hopefully at some point we will be competitive again. Hopefully that is sooner rather than later.”
McLaren have yet to a score a point so far this season and thus language at the bottom of the championship standings.
Big Question: None really…
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