Alonso: McLaren Chassis Second Only to Red Bull in 2015
Fernando Alonso claims McLaren’s MP4-30 has the second-best chassis in Formula One, but says Honda’s lack of power is holding the team back.
Fernando Alonso has declared that McLaren’s MP4-30 chassis is the best in Formula One after Red Bull, despite the team’s continued struggles with Honda power in the 2015 season. As the team prepared for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Alonso pointed to data showing McLaren’s cornering performance as evidence of the car’s underlying strength.
McLaren reverted to its older ‘long nose’ configuration for the high-speed Monza circuit, fully aware that the long straights would highlight the lack of power from Honda’s engine. Both Alonso and Jenson Button were set to take further engine-related grid penalties, with the team conceding that Monza would be a damage-limitation exercise. Instead, the focus was on optimising the car for the upcoming Singapore and Japanese rounds, where a strong chassis can play a greater role.
Alonso confident in McLaren’s chassis
Alonso remained upbeat about McLaren’s prospects, despite a season spent in the midfield. He told Spanish media that the remaining races were effectively test sessions for the team. The Spaniard insisted that McLaren’s chassis was among the best on the grid, only trailing Red Bull in terms of cornering performance. “The data proves it,” he said, adding that the team’s real deficit was on the straights, where Honda’s power unit could not compete with Mercedes or Ferrari.
Engine tensions and public claims
Honda’s F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai entered the Monza weekend making bold statements about the Japanese power unit, claiming it was already superior to Renault’s. Arai’s comments also hinted at doubts over the quality of McLaren’s chassis, suggesting a disconnect between engine supplier and team. Alonso dismissed the idea of a rift, attributing any apparent disagreements to the volume of media interviews and the risk of misunderstandings.
The public divergence between McLaren and Honda’s assessments underlined the pressure both sides faced in their renewed partnership. While Honda sought to defend its progress, McLaren’s drivers and management continued to highlight the need for more power to match the car’s aerodynamic and mechanical potential.
Looking ahead to more favourable circuits
With Monza regarded as a write-off due to engine penalties and the power deficit, McLaren’s attention shifted to Singapore and Suzuka. Both circuits place a premium on chassis performance rather than outright engine power. Alonso’s comments suggest the team hoped to demonstrate its true pace in these conditions, provided Honda could deliver improved reliability and output.
The situation highlighted the complexity of modern Formula One, where a strong chassis can be masked by engine shortcomings. For McLaren, 2015 became a season of development and patience, with Alonso’s optimism resting on the belief that the team’s car was fundamentally competitive, if only the power unit could catch up.
