Alonso calls McLaren’s 2017 F1 season ‘very bad’

Fernando Alonso has given an honest assessment of McLaren’s displays through the 2017 Formula 1 season, calling it “very bad” after a lack of performance on-track.

McLaren entered the F1 season hopeful of continuing its upward trajectory from 2016, only for a number of issues with the team’s Honda power unit to leave it struggling for both performance and reliability.

Alonso has made no secret of his frustration throughout the year, and while McLaren has shown signs of progress in recent weeks to enter the fight at the front of the F1 midfield, it has not changed the Spaniard’s view of the season.

“I think it was very bad,” Alonso said. “It was not a good season, despite the progress that is noticeable with what we did with the car and despite the optimism for next year.

“We all believe inside the team that it will be a fantastic 2018 season. We have that mood now in the team.

“I think if we look back when we launch the car in McLaren in February, new regulations, four months to work on the engines to power a little bit what we had in 2016, the hopes for this season were much different, I think for myself and for the team.

“Now, to be ninth in the constructors’ championship, to use 12 engines until now or something like that, it cannot be a good season for anyone in the team.”

Alonso charged to his second-best result of the season so far last weekend in Brazil, finishing eighth to secure his first back-to-back points of the year after taking P10 in Mexico.

Despite a five-race run between Hungary and Mexico without points, Alonso has been impressed by McLaren’s progress with the MCL32 car, believing the updates introduced are laying good groundwork for next year.

“I think from Hungary onwards I think every step we introduced in the car was quite positive, even in Spa and Monza where because of the layout we didn’t prove it,” Alonso said.

“I think we are in the right direction. Definitely, it’s still a little bit to catch the top guys, in terms also of the chassis, but I think we are optimistic.

“We know our strengths, and we know our weaknesses and we need to make sure that in March next year we attack all of them.”