Alonso expecting upgrades to "unlock further potential"

Fernando Alonso says that McLaren can continue the momentum they gained in Australia as they aim for more points in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso says that McLaren can continue the momentum they gained in Australia as they aim for more points in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Spaniard finished an impressive fifth in the season opener, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, proving that McLaren will be able to mix it with the big boys this season.

Team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne finished a solid ninth, securing McLaren’s first double points finish since Hungary 2017.

Both Alonso and Vandoorne were helped by Haas’ unbelievable double retirement, but nevertheless it was a performance to be proud of for the Woking-based team.

Alonso said: “I know the team are working hard back at the factory to push through the upgrades that are in the pipeline, as these, along with the development work we’re doing on the chassis and with the power unit, are what will be key to unlocking further performance from our car.”

Alonso also expressed the importance of keeping focussed during the next few weeks, saying: “We mustn’t get complacent – these two races in Bahrain and Shanghai are tough on the cars and it’s important that we maintain good reliability if we are to maximise our potential.