Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Alonso 'embarrassed' by 'GP2 engine'

Fernando Alonso says he is "embarrassed" to be racing with a "GP2 engine" after struggling for straight-line speed in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Both McLaren-Hondas were passed with ease on numerous occasions using DRS in to Turn 1, with the Renault-powered Toro Rosso's of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen finding overtaking the McLaren relatively simple. Alonso had been running as high as ninth early on, but complained on team radio: "I'm being passed on the straights like it's GP2. It's embarrassing, very embarrassing."

Alonso later simply exclaimed: "GP2 engine! GP2! Argh!"

Explaining his comments - for which he was criticised by McLaren boss Ron Dennis - after Honda's home race, Alonso says he is frustrated how well he drives is negated by the power unit performance.

"I feel embarrassed when I am racing some times because it is frustrating when you see other cars making mistakes, braking late, going out of racing line, going sideways and, when you look in the mirror on the straights to look for them, they are side-by-side [with you] already," Alonso said. "The deficit we have on power is just like another category so it’s tough to race like this.

"In terms of performance, hopefully next year, because I know they must change a lot of things on the power unit and the structure, so I think that will be a medium term job and for next year, not the remaining races."

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AS IT HAPPENED: Japanese Grand Prix

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.