Fernando Alonso: “It’s hard and frustrating”

New Grand Prix and new disillusionment in the clan McLaren –Honda. If Stoffel Vandoorne saw the finish of the Russian event in Sochi, only taking 14th position under the checkered flag, Fernando Alonso saw his Sunday end prematurely in the formation lap.

Victim of a problem on the ERS of the Power Unit of his MCL32, the double world champion was forced to immobilize his car near the pit lane entrance.

« It's hard, it's frustrating, it's the same thing every weekend, asserts the Spaniard. My Power Unit didn't have the usual power during the formation lap, so my engineer told me to change some settings on the steering wheel.

Unfortunately it didn't work and towards the end of the lap the engine stopped. My race was over before it started. Not being able to race today and not being able to finish any races so far makes this season extremely difficult. »

From the almost complete F1 withIndyCar

A new problem with the Japanese power unit which will not help matters between Woking and its engine partner Honda. “It is extremely disappointing to experience reliability and performance issues during a race weekend, comments Eric Boullier, competition director of McLaren Racing.

We must work together to get out of this situation. As for Fernando, I share his frustration: it is not acceptable to start a second consecutive Grand Prix with just one car, and we must resolve this immediately. He's understandably disappointed, but things will get better. »

The Spanish driver will now travel to the United States to begin his preparation for the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport, McLaren and Honda, with his first runs scheduled for this Wednesday.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Russian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Sochi, in issue 2112 of AUTOhebdo, available from Tuesday evening in digital version, and from this Thursday on newsstands.