---
title: "Alonso declares McLaren as slowest of all"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/03/26/alonso-declares-mclaren-slowest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyran Gibbons"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2017-03-26T15:09:14Z"
modified: "2017-03-26T15:11:57Z"
---

# Alonso declares McLaren as slowest of all

Following his retirement from the Australian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso has stated that McLaren is last in terms of performance in Formula 1’s emerging 2017 pecking order.

McLaren’s pre-season trials and tribulations evidently compromised their performance in the season opener.

Stoffel Vandoorne finished last of those who saw the checkered flag, while Alonso retired as a result of suspension failure.

“We are last in terms of performance,” Alonso declared when speaking to [Sky Sports F1](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12479/10814480/fernando-alonso-says-mclaren-have-worst-performance-in-f1). “We were 10th because the qualifying lap yesterday was extremely good, at the start I managed to gain one position and then \[Romain\] Grosjean’s retirement gave us the other one.

“In normal conditions on a normal circuit we should be last and second last.”

Alonso’s comments follow a winter programme in which McLaren has been highly critical of engine partners Honda who – despite entering their third year of the partnership – has once again failed to provide a competitive and reliable powertrain.

It is widely accepted that two-time champion Alonso is outperforming his machinery at present.

The Spaniard exceeded the team’s expectations with 13th in qualifying in Melbourne and defied his car’s deficiencies again during the race, running tenth until his MCL32’s suspension faltered.

“I was driving one of my best races so far and we were surprisingly in the points all race long,” Alonso continued.

“We had to do a huge fuel-saving which was hurting us a lot but we managed to keep the position. It was a surprise to be so high but at the end we couldn’t finish and we need to be more competitive soon.”