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Fernando Alonso and McLaren once again failed to make it into the final session of qualifying in China. The Spaniard will line up in P13 for Sunday's Grand Prix, ahead of teammate Stoffel Vandoorne.
Since taking on the Renault power unit at the start of the year, the Woking-based team has failed to get a car into Q3. And in China, the Spaniard subsequently admitted that his result during qualifying the maximum the team could have hoped for.
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"We were trying for P11, which would have been ideal, starting first outside of Q3 to choose tyres, but it wasn't possible. P13 was the maximum." Alonso said. "We'll try to score points tomorrow. I think we are in a good position. The last two or three cars in Q3 will struggle because they will have to stop early with the purple tyres. We still need to find more speed, as we said in Bahrain."
Alonso also spoke about the help he received from Stoffel Vandoorne: "In Q1 we were deciding who would give the tow to the other. I finished ahead in Q1 so we decided I'd give Stoffel a tow in the first run and then he would give it to me. In equal conditions we are P13 so we have to improve, that's clear." Alonso noted.
And with China being harsh on tyres, especially the purple-walled ultra soft compound, the double world champion has suggested that he will opt for a one-stop strategy: "It's on the limit between one and two. I think all those in Q3 with the purple ones will stop twice and those outside of it maybe have the advantage of stopping once." Alonso concluded.
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Replies (7)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And even that was thanks to drafting.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
But China isnt McLaren's track at all. Far too power hungry track.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
Red Bull says hi. And so does Renault...
I know what you mean, though. But McLaren still looks mighty stupid the way the kept throwing Honda under the bus the last couple of years.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@mbm that's a very absurd narrative that's very popular these days. I understand why, McLaren talked a big game about the change, as they always do. But the fact remains that McLaren in two races have almost as many points as they got all previous years and have had 100% reliability. They are not as fast as they made us think they would be (they never are), but they are vastly improved.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
@Aj
How many points they have now, compared to previous years is somewhat irrelevant. Force India and Williams have regressed in a way nobody could've imagined. Haas had a double retirement in the first race, as did RBR in the second. I'm not trying to take anything away from them as such, but sometimes you're lucky, that's just the reality of it.
I don't remember if the claimed it the first year, but for the last couple of years they've been telling everybody who'd listen (and quite a few who wouldn't) that they have THE BEST CHASSIS on the grid, and if they only had a proper engine, they'd be in the fight for the championship. Now they have finally gotten their wish, and RBR are still lightyears ahead of them.
Madmaz
Posts: 14
Agree with you mbmw. They do look disrespectful for pointing fingers last year. The car is still very slow on the straights with a “more powerful” Renault. Clearly a draggy chassis rather than poor horsepower. And yes, not one of their points has been on merit this year. They have been lucky. They were much more competitive towards the end of last year making Q3 often if I recall. Seems like they have stepped backwards.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Either way they look silly. We all knew they had a high aero chassis last year, we know they have it this year aswell. All of that talk for this? Just goes to show that Red Bull, they are not. Their chassis is a one trick pony.