Alonso: Tests are very promising

Fernando Alonso is more optimistic than in 2015 following the winter tests carried out on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. There McLaren MP4-31 completed 2108 km after two weeks of testing and demonstrated better reliability than its predecessor.

« We missed a day last week, but we were relatively spared from problems this week and that’s very promising.”, commented Fernando Alonso on the official F1 website. “We made fundamental changes with the Power Unit because we used a dozen engines last year. This is unacceptable and we cannot repeat this. »

If McLaren has progressed in terms of reliability with the 6l V1.6 turbo/Honda hybrid, the Woking team still needs to gain several seconds per lap compared to last year to return to the front.

“I’m a little waiting on that front. The reference sometimes seems accessible while at other times it no longer seems accessible., added the double world champion. “We are a little confused with the performances of the others... We must be able to make further progress with the Power Unit and with the chassis where we will have different things to test like the new design of the rear of the car. We are still in the learning phase in this sector. »

Discover the report of the winter tests in Barcelona in issue 2053 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.