De la Rosa: McLaren-Honda not set for 2016 F1 wins
Pedro de la Rosa says McLaren-Honda should not expect race victories in the 2016 Formula One season, despite clear signs of progress in pre-season testing.
Pedro de la Rosa has cautioned McLaren-Honda against expecting race wins in the 2016 Formula One season, pointing to the continued dominance of Mercedes and Ferrari as the real benchmark for success this year.
Speaking during pre-season testing at Barcelona, the former McLaren test driver told Spanish radio that while McLaren-Honda has made progress, the team is still not in a position to challenge for wins. De la Rosa, who worked closely with Fernando Alonso during his time at McLaren, argued that expectations should remain realistic given the scale of the challenge facing the Woking-based squad.
McLaren endured a difficult 2015 campaign after rekindling its partnership with Honda, finishing ninth in the constructors’ standings. The team has since focused on improving reliability and power from the Honda power unit, with early signs in 2016 suggesting some progress. However, de la Rosa believes that breaking into the top three remains a tall order.
Mercedes and Ferrari still out of reach
De la Rosa said he expects only Mercedes and Ferrari to win races regularly in 2016, citing their current advantage in both performance and consistency. He predicted that the two Mercedes and two Ferraris would be the only cars capable of challenging for the top step of the podium on a regular basis. For McLaren-Honda, a realistic target would be reaching Q3 in qualifying and fighting for occasional podiums, rather than outright victories.
Ferrari’s strong pre-season pace has also caught de la Rosa’s attention. He noted that the Italian team has shown its hand early with impressive lap times, rather than concealing its true pace. This transparency, he said, is unusual for a team of Ferrari’s stature but underlines their confidence heading into the new season.
McLaren-Honda’s aims for 2016
For McLaren-Honda, the immediate goal is to close the gap to the front-runners and re-establish itself as a regular presence in the top ten. De la Rosa suggested that consistent Q3 appearances and the occasional podium should be considered a successful outcome for 2016, given the team’s recent struggles. He emphasised the need for steady progress rather than expecting a sudden return to winning ways.
- McLaren-Honda finished ninth in the 2015 constructors’ standings.
- Honda has focused on improving engine reliability and power for 2016.
- The team’s target is to reach Q3 and fight for podiums, not wins.
De la Rosa, who last raced in Formula One in 2012, also hinted that his own F1 career is likely over, with a possible move to Le Mans sports cars under consideration. He dismissed speculation about Fernando Alonso’s retirement, pointing to the Spaniard’s determination to continue competing at the highest level.
With Mercedes and Ferrari setting the pace, McLaren-Honda faces another season of rebuilding. The team’s progress will be measured not in wins, but in its ability to challenge for points and rejoin the battle at the front of the grid.
