Eric Boullier is hoping for a more positive F1 season after three nightmare years, but admits that the team’s reliability in testing was not what they wanted.
McLaren faced numerous problems in testing, resulting in the team completing the least laps in Barcelona.
However, McLaren did show some good pace when their car was on track, with both Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne setting some very good lap times.
Boullier said: “With the many developments within our team over the past six months or so, it brings me great excitement and pride to see everything coming together and the new McLaren Renault MCL33 hitting the track in Melbourne.
“We didn’t have the reliability we hoped for in winter testing, but all the issues we have faced have since been addressed back at the factory.
“There’s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to ensure we leave no stone unturned in our quest to extract the maximum pace we can from our new package from the first race.
“We’re not expecting miracles to be worked overnight – far from it – but what we do know is that we’ll give it our all this weekend.”