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Alonso: McLaren will be in a much better position in 2019

Alonso: McLaren will be in a much better position in 2019

08-11-2018 17:25
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Bobby Vincent

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso believes his team will be in a "much better position" next season after starting to understand the issues in its MCL33.

Alonso unfortunately won't be driving for McLaren next season - as the Spaniard is wrapping his time up in Formula One, with just two races remaining in an illustrious career.

McLaren have endured a tough season this year and currently sit in sixth in the constructors' championship having only scored points on two occasions since the summer break ended.

The car has been a problem, with even McLaren CEO Zak Brown admitted its MCL33 is "an extremely poor race car" earlier this year.

But now they've carried out a series of experiments during recent weekends, and they've started to understand the issues and will be determined to make the necessary changes for next season; where Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz will be replacing Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

"I think the car is definitely going to be more competitive next year," Alonso said ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix in Brazil. "From July we've been testing experimental parts next year. I think there's a lot of optimism in the team with the direction the car took in the last couple of months.

"We understood our problems. We know that last year the car was very competitive on the chassis side, we know that.

"We have lost some of the competitive this year, we understood why. I think next year, the team will be in a much better position and I'm happy for them."