"People have a good vibe about where the new car is," says Button
Thursday 29 January 2015 17:22, UK
Fernando Alonso has warned McLaren-Honda face “a learning year” following a circumspect launch of the MP4-30, the first McLaren car to be powered by Honda since 1992.
Honda are returning to F1 this season after a seven-year absence to rekindle the partnership with McLaren which dominated the sport prior to its 1992 break-up. Although McLaren have previously stressed the importance of engine exclusivity, with team boss Ron Dennis declaring that only a works team could challenge for titles in F1's current guise, both of the team’s drivers, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, have delivered a cautious appraisal of the old-but-new partnership’s prospects. After sitting out the first year of F1’s new turbo era as interested observers, Honda have a lot of catching up to do.
“It’s going to be a learning year and a learning process for all of us. The goal is to win but we need to be ready to work as a team and be united to achieve that win as soon as possible,” said Alonso.
Performance-related targets were conspicious by their absence in the press release marking the MP4-30's online launch. In one especially telling remark, team boss Ron Dennis spoke of the new car signalling the "start of a lengthy journey" with the first - and only - mention of world championships appended to the word 'eventually'.
As the team step into the unknown with their new and untried engine, the McLaren-Honda hymn sheet has erased all expectant talk of instant success.
“You go into every season, especially when you are at McLaren, thinking you could be fighting for victories. Obviously it’s a little bit different this year because Honda are not experienced with this engine as the other manufacturers,” concurred Button.
“It’s not going to be an easy season – and the first few weeks of the season are going to be tough, but hopefully we will learn a lot which will put us in a good position for race one.”
A hybrid version of last season’s car, powered by a Honda engine, completed just five laps in the two-day November test in Abu Dhabi, an ominous illustration of the difficulties McLaren-Honda will undoubtedly encounter this winter when their new package is put to the test. At last January's Jerez meeting, the first to be held in the era of V6 engines, less than 100 laps were completed by the entire field. With good reason, tension is bound to be high in the McLaren-Honda garage on Sunday when Alonso takes their new car for its maiden drive.
“Jerez is going to be very emotional. It’s normal to have stress before the test because you are very curious to see how the car and the engine behaves,” said the Spaniard. “That first lap we are going to do at Jerez will be emotional for me as well but I think everyone will understand it will be a tough day. Hopefully will learn on the first day, and keep learning through the test, but definitely it is a big day.
“In the first couple of days with the car we will discover many, many things and we need to be ready to react to all the problems we may face – and be ready with an answer.”
Button will take over driver duties on Monday. “The car is very different and people have a good vibe about where the new car is,” said the former world champion. “Testing is going to be very important because we have a lot less experience than all the other engine manufacturers.
“After two minutes of driving the car you will have a slight understanding of the direction you are going that season. I’m a little bit nervous but very excited to jump in the car."
The Sky Sports F1 Online team will be providing live commentary of all three winter tests, starting in Jerez on February 1, with live updates from trackside also on Sky Sports News HQ.
