Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Honda still has potential to unlock - Alonso

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Following McLaren making great strides in pre-season testing in terms of reliability, Fernando Alonso expressed his motivation as he heads into his second season with the Woking outfit.

But the Spaniard remains a little undetermined when it comes to assessing his team's performance level on a relative basis, while admitting that there is still more to come from Honda in terms of power unit development.

"We had two main issues last year: the performance and the reliability and at least the reliability I am happy with," Alonso sais.

"We cannot forget that last year we used 11 or 12 units to complete the championship, so that’s unacceptable for us. We had to redesign a little bit the power unit and I think the answers from the two weeks of testing are quite positive."

While both Alonso and Jenson Button put the new MP4-31 through its paces and clocked some very encouraging lap times, the former isn't sure where McLaren exactly stand in the pecking order on the performance front.

"In terms of performance, I am a bit on a standby because it’s difficult to read the time during the winter. It’s always changing.

"Some days some of the top times they seem reachable, some other days they seem unreachable. A little bit confused with the performance of everybody else and ourselves as well."

In any case, McLaren-Honda remain a work in progress, an aspect Alonso is very much aware of.

"I think on the power unit, there is still potential to unlock in terms of performance and in terms of the following engine that will come.

"And then on the chassis side, there are many things to be tested. Some new concepts that we have in the car aerodynamically, some new redesign at the back end of the car that we keep studying and we keep understanding how to use that area to maximise the potential.

"So we wait for Australia, 5 o’clock. Everyone on track, same fuel load, same tyres for everybody and we get the answers.

FULL REPORT: Vettel ensures Ferrari ends testing on top

GALLERY: Pre-season testing

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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.