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Sunday brought a familiar site to Fernando Alonso as the Spaniards problems ended in retirement. His engine gave up two laps from the end of the race while he was running in tenth, on course to score McLaren's first point of the season.
Alonso's weekend started off in simalr fashion as he suffered problems with his engine in the first free practice session. Tensions are now mounting between McLaren and Honda, and the first major cracks in the relationship are starting to show.
Alonso retired early in China: "I couldn't feel my hands and feet"
Alonso: "I looked crazy ten years ago criticizing Honda"
Alonso says that finishing in tenth position wasn't a major deal for him but it would have been huge for the team, and understands that they feel frustration around the whole situtaion.
"It's hard for the guys in the team to lose that point," Alonso said. "For me, it doesn't change my life. After 16 years here, one point is... But for the guys here, it means something. They've been working so hard, day and night, preparing our car, preparing the strategy and taking care of every single detail. You want to do a good result for them even if it's just one point. Frustrating."
The new problems mean that another engine change is likely for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in two weeks. It also means that the double world champion is likely to start the race from last place.
"It's definitely very frustrating. It is not only that we lost a point today and we lost another race, we will start last in Baku because Jenson changed the power unit in Monaco and started last. Here we lost a power unit and in Baku we will start last again. The situation is definitely not nice."
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
A. Antonelli
C. Leclerc
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Replies (3)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Probably would have started last anyway
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
- This Honda PU seems beyond redemption. However, I would love to swallow my words if the update turn our to be amazing
- The McLaren chassis seems to be remarkable. Which also gives me great hope that as soon as they fit a proper PU they will be back to fighting for interesting things
- Fernando Alonso is dare-I-say performing as though he was in his prime? I know at mid-thirties seems silly to say he's in his prime, but his performances continue to amaze me. He is really making Stoffel look bad.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah I hope so too. It would be very nice if they were to turn it around, fix the vibrations and the MGU. But at this rate I think its too late for Honda to save their partnership with McLaren, even if they were to deliver a competitive upgrade. And Alonso is definitely pushing to his limits at the moment.