Fernando Alonso believes McLaren has improved “in every aspect” after he received his first taste of the team’s 2019 Formula 1 car.
Alonso got behind the wheel of McLaren’s MCL34 at Sakhir on Tuesday as he carried out tyre development work in conjunction with sole supplier Pirelli, running in parallel with the first in-season test of the year.
Alonso completed 64 laps of the Sakhir Circuit on a rain-disrupted day, finishing 11th of the 15 runners, as he attempted to assist McLaren with development of its 2019 car.
Alonso raced for McLaren from 2015 to 2018 but stepped away from a race seat at the end of last year, citing his desire to explore other opportunities, most prominently his pursuit of motorsport’s Triple Crown.
He nonetheless retained a connection with McLaren through an ambassadorial role – ahead of his impending Indianapolis 500 tilt – and spent the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in the Formula 1 paddock.
McLaren struggled for performance through 2018 – particularly during the second half of the campaign – but has enjoyed an encouraging start to 2019.
Lando Norris secured sixth position in Bahrain, the team’s highest finish since last year’s Australian Grand Prix, while Carlos Sainz Jr. battled Max Verstappen early on; Norris and Sainz Jr. were also both present in Q3.
“Obviously it’s a step forward in every aspect of the car,” said Alonso.
“I think the car has more grip, the car is less draggy on the straights. The engine is a bigger step as well. Overall, as a package, I think the car is on the right direction.
“Obviously we saw in the first two races there is still another step to do if you want to compete with the top three teams.
“But as a first step I think, and hopefully consolidate as a fourth team or leading the midfield together with Haas, that’s the target. I felt that on the car as well.”
McLaren began 2018 brightly, with Alonso fourth in the standings after the opening two grands prix, before the team faded as the year progressed.
Alonso expressed confidence that the team can avoid a repeat this year, pointing to his belief that the MCL34 has a stronger baseline than its predecessor.
“I think we’ve been working a lot for four or five years in the team, and we never had probably the momentum, or never had the continuity or progress,” he said.
“We saw some good signs. We finished Bahrain last year, and I was third in the championship or fourth in the championship.
“We had a good start and some good moments, but never the continuation through the year.
“I think this year there is a good baseline and good programme of development, and I think it’s going to be a much better season. I’m happy.
“Especially last year, it was a good start, but then we stopped the development probably in May or June, so that was painful until Abu Dhabi.”
