Alonso: "McLaren's true pace to show in 2018"

  • Published on 28 Sep 2017 10:16
  • comments 7
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso believes that the motorsport world will see the true pace and potential of McLaren in 2018. The Woking team will be powered by French manufacturer Renault next year, who also supply engines to the works Renault team and Red Bull.

During the Singapore Grand Prix weekend two weeks ago, McLaren announced its divorce from Honda, its current engine supplier. The fallen partnership re-formed in 2015, but Honda failed to produce a competitive engine over the following three seasons. However, now that the team will have a more powerful unit next year, Alonso thinks that the results will improve drastically.

"Next year will be a good test," Alonso told Sky F1. "The same engine as Red Bull will be the truth to see whether the chassis is good or not. "For the last three years we have been the only team with the Honda engine so it's been hard to compare. But the engineers do simulations on everything and we believe we have a good car."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (7)

Login to reply
  • Knowing your luck Alonso, that wont happen.

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2017 - 10:19
    • Its 500 Employees of McLaren vs Alonso's luck.

      • + 0
      • Sep 28 2017 - 17:42
    • Alonso has had worse odds before. ;)

      • + 0
      • Sep 28 2017 - 19:12
  • Wouldn't it be great though to see Ricciardo, Verstappen, Alonso and Vandoorne fight with more or less equal weapons! And Hulk and Sainz will probably be close too. If the Renault engine can make a big step, they would all mix it up with the Ferrari's and Mercedesses even. We can dream can't we? :)

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2017 - 11:08
  • Interesting to see if they will be quicker than RB, I suspect - Yes, and this will well piss off RB.

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2017 - 11:49
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Unfortunately McLaren hasn't had a good chassis in years and yes, that includes Padddy Lowe & Tim Goss. Frankly, their recent cars have been sheds. Now it's time for Peter Prodoumo to properly show the skills learned alongside the mighty Newey. Alonso feels it's a good chassis but until they can power it properly they will never know. It might still be a shed. After all, look what's happened to Williams with the most powerful engine on the grid - they're going backwards, and they seem to be placing a lot of faith in Lowe, who we know is a decent shed designer. Why did Merc let him go with no gardening leave I ask you?

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2017 - 13:35
    • That was certainly the case up until 2016. This year, Im not sure. It looks very competent, but Im not sure that says anything about their 2018 form, just like Renault's and Honda's respective abysmal forms this season likely says little about their 2018 capabilities. Two things are certain: McLaren are two weeks behind schedule already, and they have far less money to spend on the next season's chassis now.

      • + 0
      • Sep 28 2017 - 17:44

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 466
  • Podiums 8
  • Grand Prix 137
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar