Brown: 'Now we've got to finish where we start tomorrow'

©McLaren

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The McLaren camp was bursting with joy when the checkered flag fell on this afternoon's qualifying session and Fernando Alonso remarkable P7 achievement.

Anyone unfamiliar with the team's distressed state of affairs or oblivious of the timesheet would have perhaps deduced from the fanfare that the Spanish driver had just secured pole position for his home race.

But the performance simply highlights what has been a painful season to date for McLaren-Honda.

"What a lap!" enthused McLaren executive Zak Brown.

"The team's doing a great job, Eric and the whole crew, just fantastic. And Fernando at home, he did it. Now we've got to finish where we start tomorrow, or better!"

McLaren and Honda heading to a divorce!

Alonso's failure yesterday in FP1 when his Honda engine expired after just three corners inflicted more griping pain on McLaren and its driver.

But today's result is a testimony to the team's ability to regroup and get going again, insists Brown.

"I might go play some tennis tonight if that brings some good luck," Brown told Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz, referring to Alonso heading for the courts yesterday to evacuate his frustrations.

"You can't give up. This is Formula 1, it's tough, but this is good, this is good for the team. I'm very happy."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.