Fernando Alonso insists McLaren have enjoyed a "very good start" to the 2018 season when only the facts are taken into account.
Although the team haven't enjoyed the best results, particularly in qualifying, stronger race pace and better reliability than their rivals sees McLaren sitting third in the Constructors' Standings with 22 points after just two races – McLaren failed to score in the opening seven races last year.
Alonso believes expectations were set too high pre-season and supporters are therefore disappointed by what they've seen so far, but when looking at the facts, the Spaniard says their start has actually been "very good".
"I don't know what exactly people were expecting from one season to another where the regulations stay the same," Alonso said on Thursday.
"There were three teams ahead of everyone last year and this year they stayed ahead of everyone.
"Last year in three races we had zero points. Last year Stoffel [Vandoorne] didn't even make the start in Bahrain, he was pulling the car into the pitlane, so this year from two races four cars to the checkered flag and third in the constructors' championship.
"If we look at the facts, not the feelings or the wishes or the dreams, if we see the facts, this is a very good start."
Alonso also hailed the fact McLaren has yet to encounter any reliability problems unlike its rivals, which have suffered from pit stop mistakes, engine failures, gearbox failures and poor strategy calls, which is in part why McLaren sit so high in the standings despite a best result of fifth.
"We didn't have any mechanical failures or operational failures and I think we are the only team, no? I think there's only one team remaining with no issues at all in two weekends and that's only McLaren because even Mercedes they changed the gearbox already a couple of times. It's only McLaren.
"This could change quite quickly, unfortunately, but I think so far the start of the season has been very positive. But I understand that the expectations are always difficult to meet and a potential championship fight."
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