Alonso "Sad to be happy" After P14

McLaren-Honda progressed to Q2 for the first time in Bahrain but Alonso reflects on this joy as “sad”.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Alonso joked “It’s sad to be happy about making it into Q2”. The Spaniard qualifying P14 with a 1:35.039 – after the two previous races starting P18 behind team-mate Jenson Button.

On whether points were attainable on Sunday Fernando responded: “Something would have to happen in the race to reach the points, but if everything is normal it will be hard”.

It has been a weekend of mixed emotions for McLaren. Their long-run pace looked to be just a second per lap off the Mercedes’ in FP2, but both drivers frequently experiencing issues – Jenson Button retiring from Qualifying before he could set a lap.

“Everything we add to the car works. You have to learn to walk before you run, and we are doing step by step, but I have no doubts that the direction is the right one.”