Fernando Alonso says McLaren’s Q2 exits during qualifying reflects the team’s current one-lap pace in Formula 1’s pecking order.
McLaren pair Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne were both knocked out in Q2 in Australia and Bahrain, and targeted improvements heading to the third round of the season.
However, despite using slipstreaming tactics in order to alleviate the effect of its draggy MCL33, Alonso was only 13th, with Vandoorne one position behind.
“We didn’t have the pace to make it into Q3 today,” said Alonso.
“After we were P9 in Q1, we were a little bit more optimistic and thought we could make it into the top 10, but then in Q2 we weren’t quick enough.
“We were P11 in Australia, P13 in Bahrain and here, and that’s where we are at the moment for qualifying.
“Not enough, we know, as we seem to be slow on the straights, but we have the potential to improve that.”
Vandoorne added: “The result is obviously a little bit disappointing, but we’re more or less in the positions we were expecting to be in.
“Since the start of the season we’ve been around these places in qualifying, so this is how it is at the moment. There’s some work ahead of us to improve our performance.”
McLaren, though, can take solace from its race pace, having so far converted its successive double Q2 exits into points with both cars in Australia and Bahrain.
As a result, McLaren holds third position in the Constructors’ Championship.
