After six races, the McLaren-Honda partnership has finally scored points for the first time since 1992. In an event which saw no trouble for one car, the other was very quick yet very fragile. For the first time in a long time too, Fernando Alonso suffered a penalty for causing a collision. However, McLaren are finally off the mark, and the cars looked genuinely quick around the streets of Monaco.
2015 Monaco Grand Prix McLaren Review
No. 14 Fernando Alonso
Grid: P13
Race: DNF (overheating)
Alonso was on for a possible Q3 result until an issue sidelined him early on in Q2. This compromised him for the race, but opted to start on the prime tyre. He started the race well but took out Nico Hülkenberg early on; earning a time penalty, which perhaps should have been more. This dropped him down a few places in the order, and his race ended after suffering overheating issues. Well and truly A weekend to forget for the two-time winner.
No. 22 Jenson Button
Grid: P10
Race: P8
Conversely to Alonso, Button looked a bit off-key in qualifying, and was eliminated in Q2. Penalties to others meant that he was able to start in the top 10, and the woes to cars in front of him saw him move up the field. This netted him a top 10 finish for the first time this season, and significantly four championship points in the intra-team battle with Alonso. It wasn’t Button’s best drive by a long shot, but at the end of the day, he brought the car home in the points, and a lot of drivers failed to do that on the day.
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