For the first time since the partnership started in 2015, a McLaren-Honda broke into Q3 qualifying with Fernando Alonso securing P10 on tomorrow's Spanish Grand Prix grid.
While both team and driver admit to higher ambitions ultimately, the achievement further validates the ongoing progress delivered by Honda since its return to Grand Prix racing.
"It's a fantastic feeling, as I've been watching Q3 on television for far too long," said a jubilant Fernando Alonso.
"It's nice to be part of the show as we keep progressing as a team and now it's the first time we get to Q3, with no big incidents. Let's enjoy for now this first step and then we'll immediately think about tomorrow and how to score points.
Contrary to what the Spaniard has been use to since he joined McLaren, he won't have any freedom of choice with regard to tyres when the #14 McLaren lines up on the grid tomorrow.
"Obviously, we won't have the free choice of tyres. We need to start with these ones tomorrow and the used ones from Q2, so that's a little bit of a handicap that we'll need to recover somehow."
Alonso isn't betting on big points in his home race but he still remains determined to make the most out of his starting opportunity while capitalising on race strategy
"We should think about moving forward but that here in Barcelona we know it's a lot about the start and the pitstops.
"So we need to concentrate on the start and then let's make the tyres come alive and take care of them because I think the degradation will be very high as we know from yesterday. That will be the key to the race."
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