Alonso: “Here to finish what I started”

After the fiasco of 2007, Fernando Alonso is back at McLaren for a new campaign with the Woking team now powered by Honda. After each party made efforts to turn the page, the reconciliations between the double world champion and Ron Dennis, the President of McLaren Group, resulted in a three-season contract.

“Things have been a bit exaggerated over time since 2007.”, commented the former pilot Ferrari. “We fought for the Championship but parted ways for different reasons. I kept the feeling of being satisfied with everything I had done, except in 2007. I didn't give the best of myself. Seven years later, being more mature, we learn and understand things inaccessible at 25. I'm here to finish what I started. Ron and I have talked a lot this year, over dinners. I wanted to say hotel rooms but that would have been misunderstood (laughs). »

Fernando Alonso also stressed that the situation was very different from that of 2007. The British team has not won for two seasons and has reformed the historic partnership with Honda. What's more the Spaniard will also play alongside Jenson Button, one of the most experienced drivers on the field. “You can never say that you won’t win the World Championship (in 2015). But I think we have to be realistic in emphasizing that the performance deficit was significant on the chassis side at McLaren this season and the Power Unit requires time to operate. We hope to have everything in order for the first race. But the single-seaters of the 2014 season showed to what extent the F1 is complex. A correct level of competitiveness would allow us to fight for podiums, even victories in 2015. This would be a good omen for the future. »