GoranF1 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2018, 09:56
The comparisons are odious, but also totally logical and it is normal that the fans of Fernando Alonso have noticed the preseason that McLaren and Toro Rosso did. Both premiere engine this year, so for fans are in 'trial period' in the tests and even in Australia.
Fernando Alonso , a driver who did not see anything pessimistic despite the problems of McLaren during the tests, says he does not regret having left Honda after the positive preseason of the Japanese with Toro Rosso .
"I have no problems with Honda, it never crossed my mind to go, but let's see how Honda goes in Australia, they did a good winter test and if they are in the top five, I will applaud, but I do not believe . the same as 21 races with three engines, "he said in statements for Spanish radio Onda Cero.
" I think they can be in the last three or four positions and we, at McLaren, are going to try to be in the top five or six, we are happy with the change to Renault, we have improved four seconds compared to last year," he said. added
"I see no reason to be pessimistic, McLaren is the second best team in history, Renault is one of the best riders that ever lived and we are full of ambition, I do not see why it should not turn out well," he said.
The British team has partnered with Renault to approach the three best teams of the moment, Mercedes , Ferrari and Red Bull , and for now this is something that, according to Alonso, are already in the process of achieving.
"Things have not changed much since the presentation or the plans we had for the winter, we wanted to improve with respect to the previous three years and try to get as close as possible to the three best teams, we are doing that" , added the Spaniard, who He denies that his team is going to be fighting with those three leading teams.
Thus, the goal of the Woking is to be among the first five each race, always pass to the last stage of qualifying and fight to live the champagne ceremony at the end of each Sunday.
"McLaren can go from being ninth to being close to them and fighting in the race.When we switched to Renault, we all agreed it would be good if McLaren was close to the top three, in the top five in each race, always in Q3 and fighting for a podium when you can, "he specified.
Alonso faces 2018 with renewed illusions, after three years that have been difficult for him due to the lack of competitiveness in Formula 1. "My life is based on competing and winning, when I lack the victories, it is hard, but I also learned other things. In these years, I opened myself to other legendary competitions like the IndyCar and the WEC, everything happens for a reason ", he highlighted.
" In those years I had some frustration, but now I'm happy because I've become a more complete driver ," he added.
Regarding his title chances in 2018, Alonso believes that Mercedes will dominate irremediably and questions the order of the teams from the first three. "Normally there are six cars in the first three grills, so then a question arises: McLaren, Haas, Renault or Force India? The first thing we have to do is win that battle, " he said to finish
