After six days of continuous problems during Formula 1 preseason testing for McLaren, Fernando Alonso has finally cracked and pointed a finger of blame at Honda for failing to deliver a competitive power unit.
Speaking to media after his day in the cockpit, Alonso said, “The team are all ready to win except Honda. I don’t think we are too far back with the chassis, we have only one problem which is the power unit.”
“There is no reliability and there is no power. We are 30kph down on the straight. We have to improve… definitely there [we need] a big reaction from the team which l expect immediately.”
“The chassis-side is difficult because we are not pushing the speed that the others are doing because of the lack of power.”
“But the chassis feels good, it is responding well to changes and I am happy with the balance and how it attacks the corners. I am enjoying the car.”
“I’m driving at my best. I feel I am the best driver out there, I just need an engine that can run as quick as the others on the straight.”
“The frustration is probably more this year because after the change in regulations you have higher hopes that you can close the gap over winter testing.”
“We are not matching our expectations. But on the other hand it is only winter testing and the season is long enough that you have time to react. But right now you cannot say we are happy or that things are going ok.”
Alonso made it clear before he drove the new cars that he needed to feel the “wow factor” from the new generation cars. And clearly he, like his rivals, is relishing the prospect of much faster and more challenging F1 cars.
He added, “I am confident that this year we will be competitive. I don’t know at which point of the year but we will be competitive and l want to win races. The team will be fully ready for Australia and to compete at a good level. The only question is how much power we will have.”
“This brings me more motivation to continue and to win. I will not stop racing without a good result and one l deserve.
“If one day in the car l see people are doing fantastic lines, they are braking later than me, they do better starts than me, on that day l will stop and say ‘it’s time’. But what l am seeing now is completely the opposite.”
“More than ever, this year, this winter, what l see on the track from myself is the best level. Now it’s the time to attack,” concluded Alonso who has yet to stand on the podium since his return to McLaren in 2015.
During his previous stint with the Woking outfit, in 2007, he won four times. His last grand prix victory was at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix for Ferrari.
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