Alonso said he had a "lot of expectations for McLaren-Honda project" but cannot pick out fond memory over three years
Monday 27 November 2017 13:40, UK
Fernando Alonso says he cannot pick out a single on-track highlight from the McLaren-Honda project, as they prepare for their final race together following a disastrous partnership.
After three years of failure - with little performance and even worse reliability - McLaren and Honda will go their separate ways after this weekend's Abu Dhabi GP, with the Woking outfit switching to Renault engines for 2018.
Defining McLaren Honda moments
McLaren-Honda said and done
Once one of Formula 1's most prestigious and successful partnerships, the 2015-2017 version of McLaren-Honda was billed as a game-changer and championship-winner but has failed to garner even a single podium.
And Alonso, whose three fifth-place finishes are the best the team have managed in that time, admits he struggles to recall any memorable moments.
"It's difficult to pick out one race because obviously the performance was never there," Alonso said in Abu Dhabi. "Even the P5 of Monaco last year was still not as fun as it should be."
In a separate interview, Alonso was also asked to name a highlight from the current season as the F1 2017 campaign draws to a close in Abu Dhabi.
"Indianapolis," he replied. "It was the only time we were competitive."
Was that the only memory he would keep from 2017?' Alonso was asked again.
"Yes," he reiterated.
Still, the Spaniard is determined to take positives from McLaren's woes as they prepare for their next challenge.
"What I take from the last three years is the commitment and the spirit of the team," he added.
"There was not a single person giving up with the performance we had. That is the lesson I will keep for longer."
Alonso left a Ferrari team that was underperforming, but still consistently challenging, in 2014, hoping to bring glory and titles back to McLaren to end Mercedes' dominance. "Let the legend return," was Alonso's defiant message upon signing for McLaren.
Three disappointing years later, Alonso explained: "I personally had a lot of expectations for the McLaren-Honda project.
"That was probably the reason I changed from Ferrari because McLaren-Honda was very attractive partnership after the success they had in the past.
"We didn't achieve the results we wanted in the last three years, we didn't perform as we expect so I think now it's time to change."
While the last three years certainly haven't gone to plan, the two-time world champion claims he has "zero doubts" about McLaren's prospects next year with Renault, insisting he should be able to fight for wins and podiums in 2018.
"I'm quite optimistic, seeing what Red Bull is doing right now with the Renault power unit," the 36-year-old, who won both his world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, said.
"It's still missing a little bit but overall you fight for podiums and race wins, and that's a very different picture to what we have right now at McLaren.
"I consider Renault my friends and second family so it will be great. They are a very, very good company and have a very good engine. I have zero doubts."
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