Spaniard qualifies a season-best seventh for the Spanish GP; Honda refuse to comment on speculation they will be assisted by Mercedes
Sunday 14 May 2017 13:23, UK
Fernando Alonso believes McLaren could be just behind Mercedes and Ferrari on car performance after the Spaniard qualified a brilliant seventh for the Spanish GP.
Just a day after the McLaren-Honda partnership plunged to a new low when Alonso's engine blew on his first lap in Friday practice, the Spaniard produced arguably the performance of the season so far to reach the final segment of qualifying and then haul his MCL32 to the rank of 'best of the rest'.
"On the chassis side we have more or less confirmed what we have thought from the opening races," said Alonso.
"We are happy with the chassis side but we are still not the best. There is still work to do - aerodynamically and mechanically - to be at the level of Mercedes and Ferrari. They are definitely ahead of everyone but we could be right behind them in terms of the chassis."
While not overtly critical of McLaren's beleaguered engine suppliers, Alonso's assessment underlines the extent to which the unreliable and underpowered Honda engine is currently handicapping the team. McLaren are yet to score a point this term and Alonso hasn't finished a race.
In Saturday's qualifying hour, Alonso was the 19th slowest of the 20 drivers through the Barcelona speed trap. Only team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne was slower.
"We know how much we are losing from the power unit," added the Spaniard. But sitting alongside Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa, a smiling Alonso refused to divulge what amount of his two-second deficit to the pole position lap of Lewis Hamilton the McLaren team believe is Honda's responsibility.
"This is the fourth or fifth lowest track [for power sensitivity] and we benefited from that," said Alonso. "We executed qualifying well and I felt confident in the car. We knew that with one tenth between three or four cars here we had to put a perfect lap together and today was one of those days when everything came together."
Hasegawa, meanwhile, also refused to comment on reports Mercedes are in talks with Honda about offering the Japanese manufacturers a helping hand.
However, Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff clarified on Saturday night that the world champions wouldn't be interested in supplying McLaren with engines next year.
Don't miss the Spanish GP exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 on Sunday - lights out for the race is at 1pm. Check out all the ways to watch F1 on Sky Sports for subscribers and non-subscribers - including a NOW TV day pass for £6.99!
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