McLaren: Addressing one-lap pace priority after Q2 exits

McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier says the team must improve its one-lap performance going forward, after two straight double Q2 exits in Formula 1.

McLaren is one of only two teams – along with Mercedes – to score points with both cars across the opening pair of races in Australia in Bahrain to sit third in the Constructors' Championship.

Fernando Alonso placed fifth in Australia, and followed it up with seventh in Bahrain, while Stoffel Vandoorne added an eighth-placed finish last weekend to his ninth spot in the opening race.

However, the MCL33 has yet to appear in Q3, with Alonso and Vandoorne 11th and 12th in Australia, before finishing the qualifying session in Bahrain as the slowest drivers in the second segment.

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“Our results are solid but haven’t come easily, and we are by no means satisfied with our progress so far,” said Boullier on McLaren’s start to 2018. 

“We know there’s a lot of work to do and we’re working hard, day and night, to bring more performance to the car each time we hit the track.

“Our biggest deficit is our qualifying performance and addressing this is our priority.”

Alonso, who holds fourth position in the Drivers’ Championship, echoed Boullier’s comments regarding one-lap performance.

“Consistency has to be the key,” said Alonso. “We’ve been able to pull everything together on a Sunday so far – a combination of both hard work and good fortune – but we haven’t given ourselves the best chances on Saturday, so it’s important we pull the whole package together. 

“It won’t happen overnight, but we know where our issues lie and we know that we need to work hard to overcome them as soon as possible.”