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Alonso: McLaren "only team without technical issues this year"

13:59, 12 Apr 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

Fernando Alonso of McLaren has said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix that McLaren has been the most durable team on the grid, as they haven't encountered any technical difficulties yet in the first few weeks.

McLaren has struggled massively with exactly that over the last few years, as the team famously feuded with their engine partners Honda often. This year, McLaren is powered by Renault, which increased their performance quite significantly, as the team scored points in the first two races of the season. Alonso finished as high as fifth in Melbourne. McLaren is currently third in the standings, six places higher than their ninth-place finish last season.

Alonso explained that his team are the most reliable team on the grid right now.

"We didn't have any mechanical failures or operational failures and I think we are the only team, no?" the Spaniard said ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

"With the pitstop [issues] from Ferrari, the pitstops of Haas and the Red Bull retirements...

"I think there's only one team remaining with no issues at all in two weekends, and that's only McLaren because even Mercedes they changed the gearbox already a couple of times."

We hope the two-time champion knocked on wood after saying all this.

"This could change quite quickly, unfortunately, but I think so far the start of the season has been very positive.

"But I understand that the expectations are always difficult to meet and a potential championship fight."

Alonso will be looking to build on his impressive 2018 campaign, in which he's scored points in both races, compared to last year where the team didn't score any points in the first three races. Title contention looks far away, but so does their troubled past. Only up from here!