Fernando Alonso says McLaren is aiming to “look respectable” this year and thinks the start of the 2017 Formula 1 season will still be “a challenge”.
The team’s new car, the MCL32, was officially launched earlier on Friday, showing off a brand-new orange, black and white livery.
McLaren is entering the third year since reuniting with power unit supplier Honda, having placed ninth in 2015 and sixth last season.
Following the launch of the new MCL32, Alonso remains cautious about his expectations for the season ahead.
“We still think the start of the season will be a challenge – we can’t ignore the fact that we’re still coming from a significant step behind the current front-runners.
“But, I’d like to think we can target the second half of the year as a time when we’ll really be able to start making useful performance steps,” he said.
“The aim is to look respectable this year – and I’d like to think we can achieve that.”
Alonso’s first impressions of the new F1 regulations for 2017 are encouraging and he says he has lost none of his hunger to race in the sport.
“What I’ve seen of the MCL32 appears to be really promising – the new regulations seem to be well thought-out, and the cars look fast and aggressive,” he admitted.
“The look of the car makes me really want to get in the cockpit – I’ve lost none of that all-important hunger every Formula 1 driver needs.
“Training over the winter has gone well – I worked really hard – and I can’t wait to get going in the car as I say.”
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