McLaren fears Shanghai straights

McLaren expected a worse start to the Australian GP, ​​with Fernando Alonso fighting for points until the last laps and Stoffel Vandoorne arriving in 13th and last place.

If the Woking team managed to shine despite the flaws of the MCL32, it fears that it will not be able to obtain the same result this weekend in Shanghai where the Chinese GP will be contested.

“Shanghai is known for being unpredictable for several reasons. It's hard on cars, tires and Power Units. The weather may also be precarious, but I can expect that we will not be as successful as we were in Australia against our opponents.", commented Éric Boullier, Team Principal of McLaren-Honda.

“The characteristics of the Shanghai International Circuit are very different from Melbourne. The long, fast straights will expose the weaknesses of our package more than at Albert Park, admitted Éric Boullier. We will obviously approach the race with a fighting spirit, trying to ensure reliability on both cars. »

Honda under pressure

Honda staff hope to make rapid progress with the Power Unit that is causing McLaren so much trouble. The Japanese 6l V1.6 turbo / hybrid is even at the center of rumors claiming that the British team would be ready to use an engine Mercedes.

“Even though the race in Australia was a difficult weekend for us, it allowed us to see our position in the peloton, added Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda director F1. We were able to confirm certain points in terms of reliability, but we know that we still need to improve in terms of performance. »

“We expect an even tougher Chinese Grand Prix, confirmed Yusuke Hasegawa. The race is a little unpredictable with the weather which can influence the settings and balance of the car. The track itself demands a lot from the Power Units with its slow, medium corners and two long straights. »