Dennis: McLaren, Honda and Alonso will dominate F1

McLaren chairman Ron Dennis says he has no doubt that the manufacturer's new association with Honda and the re-signing of Fernando Alonso will see it 'dominate' F1 again, despite a dismal start to the 2015 season.

Having rekindled its relationship with returning engine supplier Honda and re-signed two time champion Alonso to drive alongside fellow former title winner Jenson Button, McLaren's 2015 performance has been a keen focus of the F1 season so far.

However, persistent technical issues and less-than-sparkling form have instead stolen the headlines, while four rounds into the season it is one of only two teams - along with Manor - yet to score a point.

Despite this, Dennis is unflustered by the stumbling start to its new era, maintaining the decision to collaborate with Honda is the beginnings of a bold project that he believes will see it eventually overhauling its rivals.

With this in mind, Dennis is certain Alonso will be at the forefront of its intention to win again, boldly stating it 'will dominate again'.

"Fernando is a winner, and that's why we hired him," he told the official Formula 1 website. "McLaren is a winner, as is Honda, as is McLaren-Honda specifically, and that's why he joined us. When he arrived, at the beginning of this year, as I've said, we were significantly off the pace.

"We're still off the pace, although we're making good progress towards our eventual destination, which is the front of the grid. Fernando knows that. He's won two world championships in the past, and he joined Ferrari with the ambition of returning that famous name to world championship glory. Don't forget: we last won the world championship in 2008, but Ferrari's world championship drought is longer still.

"Fernando won Grands Prix for Ferrari in the five years he drove for them, between 2010 and 2014, but he didn't quite manage to lift the world championship crown during that period. That's a regret for him, as he freely admits. But during that time he established himself as, to use your words, the best driver on the grid, and, when he decided he wanted to seek pastures new, he chose McLaren-Honda. We were delighted with that, for he was our first choice too.

"We'll win again, we'll dominate again, and we'll do that together, with Fernando front and central.

"People tend to talk a lot of nonsense about the McLaren-Alonso relationship. Okay, 2007 was a stressful year, even though we won eight races and scored more world championship points than any other team that season. But that's ancient history now. We've all moved on - and by 'we' I mean McLaren, Ferrari and indeed the FIA."

Dennis goes on to say that Alonso winning with McLaren will subsequently mark the 'wonderful culmination to his glittering career'.

"The Fernando we're working with today, now, is a fantastically motivated and inspirational man. He's as quick as ever, as competitive as ever, more experienced than ever, more expert than ever, and he combines those traits with an infectious energy and enthusiasm. Ask anyone in our team - mechanics, engineers, marketing people, PR people, cooks, waiters, cleaners, whomever you like - and they'll all say the same.

"It'll be a wonderful culmination to his glittering career, and all at McLaren and all at Honda are utterly dedicated to the task of working with him, with Jenson and with everyone else, to help him achieve it.