Alonso: 'Big step still required for next year'

After lingering at the tail end or the middle of the field, Fernando Alonso is now a consistent contender for a spot in the top-10 in qualifying and racing mode.

McLaren-Honda's progress of late has not gone unnoticed, and while the Woking-based outfit still has a fair amount of distance to travel to catch up with its rivals at the head of the pack, it is moving up.

An improving state of affairs which obviously pleases the two-time world champion, who is building his confidence for 2017 as he aims to return to the winners' circle while remaining a bit guarded given the required performance increase necessary to get there.

"We are happy with the progress we have made this year as we are able to fight with some competitive teams, like Force India and Williams," said Alonso in Thursday's press conference.

"It's definitely a step forward and we are enjoying this process of starting to be competitive. But looking at next year, we can't see anything that is clearly positive or negative.

"Everything will change massively so we need to work and be very focused on next year's car in a way now that is only theoretical, with simulators, wind tunnel numbers and dyno numbers.

"The biggest step has been done, from last year to this year, but we need another bigger step for next season which is going from Q3 and points to fighting for podiums and wins.

"We have the potential, we have the facilities, we have the talented people. This project, as I've said many times, is a question of time before we are able to win. We are trying to make it as short as possible, so we'll see."

Honda has obviously struggled to come to grips with the V6-hybrid era, but the Japanese manufacturer's engineering ability and philosophy have impressed Alonso.

"Working with Honda has been interesting from day 1," said the Spaniard.

"Their philosophy and their approach to racing in general and to some extent to life is interesting. I'm a big fan of Japanese culture and traditions, and I think they translate that into their racing philosophy. "

Asked to compare his experience of working with Honda with previous relationships he enjoyed with Ferrari and Renault, Alonso insisted on the imbedded loyalty which prevails at Honda.

"All the engineers we have in our team have been working for Honda all their life. When they finish university, if they chose Honda, they will be there all their life. That's quite different to our culture."

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