With both drivers not finishing within the top ten at the Japanese Grand Prix after a points finish in Malaysia, McLaren-Honda admitted they were “thoroughly” disappointed with their results.
Fernando Alonso finished the Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course in sixteenth, and was unable to make progress in the race on Sunday after qualifying in fifteenth, and he revealed that the team struggled in the high speed corners.
Jenson Button was only able to improve on his starting position of twenty-second by four places. With a change to his power unit components before the race, he had incurred a penalty, and although he managed to make some good moves to climb up the order it just wasn’t enough to see him in the points.
Team principal Eric Boullier is not denying that McLaren are disappointed with the results, but the team are now planning on putting the weekend in Japan behind them straight away and refocus their attention to the United States Grand Prix.
“There’s no point denying that we’re thoroughly disappointed, because we are,” said Boullier. “Having scored points with both cars last weekend in Malaysia, to finish 16th and 18th here in Japan is hard to take, frankly.
“However, such is the esprit de corps and will to win that now characterise all who work for both McLaren and Honda, as one unified racing force, that we’ll put this forgettable weekend behind us straight away and refocus our attentions and ambitions on the next race: the United States Grand Prix at Austin.
“But before we do so, I want to pay tribute to the Suzuka fans, who are amongst the most devoted and enthusiastic in the world. As ever, they came out in force today – many of them in support of their home team, McLaren-Honda – and we would dearly love to have been able to give them something better to cheer about than in the end we did.
“Next year we will.”
