Alonso labels McLaren as "surprisingly good"

Former McLaren driver Fernando Alonso believes the side's MCL34 car is "surprisingly good", but also thinks it could still do with certain areas of the car being improved upon.

Alonso is still very much involved at McLaren, taking up the new role of team ambassador, despite announcing he was leaving Formula 1 this season. He joined the Woking team for the second and final week of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Overall, it was a successful testing schedule for McLaren, with new drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr both topping a day of testing each.

Alonso hasn't driven the MCL34, but from what he's heard from the engineers, he is impressed with the team's new machine.

"I think we are learning a lot," Alonso told Autosport. "I was in contact with the team and I was aware of the debriefs and all the small problems and issues we were finding, and I think last week we confirmed the picture of the car.