McLaren "not intimidated" by drop-off in results

McLaren team principal Gil de Ferran has insisted that the team is not "intimidated" by recent results, as the Woking-based outfit has dropped off massively since the start of the season and is mostly at the back of the field now.

With two cars left behind in Q1 and two cars outside of the points again, it was yet another disappointing weekend for McLaren in the United States, even though Stoffel Vandoorne finished 11th, his highest finish in eight races.

Still, de Ferran insists that the string of bad results that the team has been getting is not affecting team morale.

“We go into the weekend with the same mindset as ever, undeterred by our most recent results and with a sharp focus on maximising our potential, which is all I can influence,” the French-born Brazilian was said on McLaren's website.

Fernando Alonso's whose race ended in the first lap as he got nailed in the side of his papaya-orange car by the Williams of Lance Stroll, is keen to just forget about his weekend in Austin and look ahead to Mexico, a place where he enjoys going.

“I want to put the disappointing race in Austin behind me as quickly as possible, so I can’t wait to be in the car again in three days,” the two-time champion said.

“The atmosphere at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is also unique, especially in the Stadium section, where the view is overwhelming and you get so close to the fans that you can even hear them roaring when you drive through."