This three week gap will have been very much welcome for the McLaren-Honda team. Fernando Alonso’s home race at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona will also be very much welcomed by McLaren. The gap will allow for significant engine development to help close in on the team’s rivals whilst the characteristics of the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona should in theory suit the MP4-30 strengths quite well. Whilst Alonso’s many fans should not expect too much from him this weekend, they should at the very least hope to get some points on the board at last. In the mean-time, the team has adopted a new graphite and rocket red colour scheme too.
2015 Spanish Grand Prix McLaren Preview
No. 14 Fernando Alonso
2015 Form: -/R/12/11
2014 Result: Q: P7, R: P6
Alonso returns to the scene of his now-infamous crash in pre-season testing. Whilst sixth may be what he achieved here last year after a race-long strategic battle with his team mate, it will be very tricky to repeat such a performance here. However, Alonso has seemed the more likely of the two McLaren drivers to achieve the team’s first point of the season, which will be much needed as the team has now endured its worst ever start to a season in their 50th season in Formula One. With the likes of Force India continuing to delay their revised package, and both Red Bull and Toro Rosso having serious issues with their Renault power units, it would seem likely that these will be possible prey for Alonso.
No. 20 Jenson Button
2015 Form: 11/R/14/-
2014 Result: Q: P8, R: P11
Button qualified pretty well here last year considering the car, but slipped back in the race. Whilst Alonso has taken numerous podiums here in the past, Button has just two to his name, including a win back in 2009. After his non-start last time out at Bahrain, Button will certainly be hoping for fewer problems here this weekend. It should be worth noting that both drivers are now onto their fourth and final power unit of the season, so a complete failure of one will see grid penalties being imposed.
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