McLaren’s Fernando Alonso has claimed the MP4-31 himself and Button will use this season is much more reliable compared to its predecessor the MP4-30 which the team last season.
Alonso went on to suggest the team will now focus on getting maximum performance from the current power unit now he is confident the reliability issues that hampered him last season won’t return again during this campaign.
During a disappointing 2015, Alonso failed to finish seven of the 18 races he started due to various power unit issues and driver mistakes but the Spaniard is confident new MP4-31 won’t suffer the same issues claiming they have made a huge step forward.
Speaking to journalists upon his arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan for his first visit since becoming the European Grand Prix ambassador Alonso said.
“I think reliability be will a huge step forward.”
“We had to dramatically change some of the concepts on the power, some of the philosophy of the power unit has changed dramatically to improve reliability.”
McLaren completed 788 laps during the 2016 pre-season tests, some 400 more than they achieved during pre-season testing in 2015 but whilst their mileage was increased they only managed to end the two tests with the eight quickest overall time.
“In terms of performance, I think we need to still unlock a lot of performance in the engine because we ran, let’s say, a little bit conservative now to have the reliability,” Alonso added.
“We need to push a little bit the limits. There’s always a balance – to push the limits and to finish the races. We will try to find it now, in the first couple of races.”
Despite the lack of points, the team scored last year Alonso is still confident McLaren could be fighting for podiums towards the end of the season.
“I think at the beginning of the year it will be difficult – after winter testing, we still miss a little bit of performance,” he said.
“But the championship is very long – 21 races, 10 months. I am sure our developing will be quite high and I think a podium possibility will be possible – but we want more than that.
“We go step by step but to be world champion is the final target with the team and myself. This year it seems that that will be extremely difficult but, you know, next year or whenever it comes, we need to work with that target [in mind].”
