McLaren’s Fernando Alonso has said both Honda and McLaren need time to improve the 2016 package.
Alonso was speaking after the second day of pre-season testing in Barcelona where the Spaniard completed 119 laps, a far cry away from the poor reliability that affected the team’s pre-season in 2015 where he only completed 117 laps over 12 days of testing.
Alonso was happy with how his first day in the new car had gone and he was pleased with the job the team had, especially compared to last years dire first test.
“I’m proud of the team and proud of the job that everyone put together in this car. I enjoyed the day, but there is performance that we need to unlock in the car.
“Most of the work we did today were laps for aerodynamic study and laps for reliability study, temperatures, brake temperatures, water temperatures, many things that from a driver point of view were not very exciting, anyone can do those kinds of laps and those studies let’s say, and I’m looking forward to do some set-up change or some soft tyres or different fuels to really enjoy the driving as well.”
Despite the improvement Alonso is aware just improving on last year is not enough, a big jump is needed for them to catch up to their rivals.
“This is let’s say an answer that we could not have any doubts, because the starting point or the power and deficit that we had last year compared to the top teams, it was just too high,” Alonso said.
“We did improve all the areas of the car. I think on the aerodynamic side there are parts which are quite innovative and quite new, in our car, at least.
“Maybe the others had these ideas in the past, but for us they are quite new.”
Alonso would not be drawn on making any bold predictions for the season to come claiming it was too early know if the targets could be achieved.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said. “There is not a crystal ball in F1 that you can bet or you can know more or less which direction the year will go after the first day of testing, or even after the two weeks of testing.
“I think we need to wait for Australia when we are all in the same conditions, with supersoft tyres and low fuel, same track conditions, and then we see.
“And even that I think we need to wait for two or three races to know for sure how the year will turn to you.
“Sitting here, or last week, in the factory, or even taking the plane to Australia, the ambition is very high.
“I’m not here just to travel around the world and jump in the car and have some fun on Sunday. I’m here to win. All the 22 drivers, they want the same, and for me it’s no different.”
