Alonso Declares McLaren-Honda F1 Crisis 'Over' Despite Austria Setbacks
Fernando Alonso says McLaren-Honda has turned a corner, even as the team faces heavy penalties and early retirements following the Austrian Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso insisted the worst was behind McLaren-Honda following a punishing Austrian Grand Prix weekend that saw both cars hit with severe grid penalties and retirements. The double world champion told Spanish media after the race that the team had now found a clear path forward, declaring “the crisis is over” despite a series of setbacks in front of Honda’s new president, Takahiro Hachigo.
Alonso and team-mate Jenson Button both started the race at the back of the grid after incurring penalties for engine and component changes. Button’s car retired early with a technical issue, while Alonso’s race ended on the opening lap after a heavy collision with Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari. The impact, measured at 44G, destroyed Alonso’s new Honda power unit, forcing yet another engine change ahead of the next round at Silverstone.
Alonso: Team has found the right direction
Despite the poor showing in Austria, Alonso was adamant that McLaren-Honda’s fortunes were set to improve. He pointed to recent development work, including a new short-nose bodywork package, as evidence that the team was making progress. Alonso said he would remain at the Red Bull Ring after the race to continue testing updates, confident that the technical direction was now correct. “We have found the right direction with several areas of the car that we have now put in place,” Alonso told Spanish reporters.
Alonso acknowledged that expectations remained high given the scale of the McLaren-Honda partnership, but stressed that much of the work ahead could be solved through teamwork. He suggested that, while results might not come immediately, the team’s internal pressure was focused on accelerating progress. The Spaniard estimated that improvements would become visible within the next two to eight races.
Penalties and reliability remain a challenge
The scale of the grid penalties in Austria drew widespread comment, with both McLaren drivers starting well down the order. The team’s engine allocation for the season has already been stretched by repeated reliability issues, and the loss of Alonso’s latest engine adds further strain. With another engine change now required for Silverstone, McLaren-Honda faces continued challenges to avoid further penalties as the season progresses.
