Zero doubts for Alonso over McLaren switch to Renault for 2018

Fernando Alonso says he has "zero doubt" about McLaren's decision to switch to Renault Formula 1 power units for the 2018 season despite a number of reliability issues for the French manufacturer in recent races.

Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the final race of McLaren's partnership with Honda, having linked up three years ago with hopes of rekindling the form that saw Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost rule the F1 world in the late 1980s and early '90s.

With no podium finishes and hundreds of grid penalties to show for the last three years, McLaren's confirmation it would be parting company with Honda back in Singapore came as little surprise, with Renault signing a three-year deal to work with the British team.

McLaren is hopeful that a Renault supply can put it back in contention at the front of the grid, having not won a race in over five years.

"I think it’s a good time to change. I personally had a lot of expectations for the McLaren-Honda project and that was probably the reason I changed from Ferrari, because the McLaren-Honda was very attractive partnership after the success they had in the past," Alonso said.

"We haven’t achieved the results we wanted in the last three years, we didn’t perform as we expect, so now it’s time to change for McLaren and join forces with Renault."

Alonso is confident that he will be able to mix it at the front of the field once again in F1 with a McLaren-Renault in 2018 despite recent concerns about reliability following issues for Red Bull, Toro Rosso and the factory team.

"I’m quite optimistic seeing what Red Bull is doing now with a Renault power unit," Alonso said.

"Obviously it is still missing a little bit on things, but overall you fight for podiums, fight for race wins and that’s a very different picture to what we have right now in McLaren. I’m optimistic for that.

"I’m feeling at home a little bit coming back to what I consider my friends and second family. That will be great and they are a very good company and have a very good engine.

"So zero doubt."