Fernando Alonso and McLaren have had a mixed start to their 2018 campaign. Yes, they do have the points on the board but they haven’t really performed the way that they had planned to.
Moving on from that ‘unreliable’ Honda engine, it seemed like this would be the breakthrough year for McLaren, a year where they could be counted amongst the elite of the sport.
However, Eric Boullier had earlier revealed that the ‘real’ McLaren car had yet to make an appearance this season and that we should expect it by the Barcelona Grand Prix.
The Barcelona GP is now less than a week away and almost all teams are expecting significant upgrades to their cars.
Alonso has confirmed that McLaren are awaiting a new aero package in Barcelona but fears that other teams too could have significant upgrades in Spain.
“In Barcelona there is a new aero package coming, but I think 95% of the paddock is bringing a new aero package to Barcelona.
“So, maybe the gap remains as it is, or we just recover a little bit, or we lose more ground.
“Who knows? I think it is up to us to make that package work to expectations and hopefully some others, they don’t deliver. That is our hope.” Alonso said.
McLaren’s qualifying pace hasn’t been up to the mark, leaving Alonso frustrated on Saturdays all through this season.
Howver, Boullier too has confirmed that people shouldn’t have very high expectations from McLaren in Barcelona, as all cars are getting upgrades for the first few European races.
“There is a new direction maybe starting from Barcelona and you cannot expect, as Fernando said, to jump up everybody,” said Boullier.
“Everybody is bringing parts, everybody is bringing a package, especially for the first European races.
“Monaco will be another upgrade, Canada will be another upgrade and Silverstone as well. It is every race.” he added.
