But with rain forecast at the US GP, Spaniard unsure whether they'll get the chance to gauge any improvement this weekend
Tuesday 27 October 2015 17:22, UK
Fernando Alonso is confident that Honda's latest engine upgrade will give McLaren a boost, although with rain forecast at the US GP, he is not sure whether they will get the chance to gauge any improvement this weekend.
Although Alonso ran the new engine during practice in Russia, running was limited there for a number of reasons, not least the rain that fell on Friday in Sochi.
Similar conditions are expected at the Circuit of The Americas this weekend, although there is a chance the rain might ease in time for Sunday's race.
It is a Catch-22 situation for McLaren, who would hope to gain a better result with their under-performing MP4-30 in wet conditions, but who can best judge their upgrades in the dry.
Alonso, who is running them this weekend - and who team-mate Jenson Button therefore hopes to be "annihilated" by, thus demonstrating that they work - explained: "From the cockpit, it's difficult to feel this kind of difference but the data shows the improvement on the engine is as expected.
"This is very good news because it's a little bit of a different concept on how the engine is built.
"Hopefully we can use it here and exploit the performance it should give us. But with the weather conditions predicted, it will be a little bit of a question mark."
The double world champion said McLaren also want to judge aerodynamic upgrades as they look to 2016, when they are seeking to chase down a 2.5s deficit to pacesetters Mercedes - a goal the Spaniard reckons is realistic.
"I'm happy with the direction we're taking. More important than this step is the philosophy for next year's engine that this spec has introduced. It's a good direction to go," he said.
Bad weather "should be an opportunity for us," added Alonso. "But to compare one spec to the other will be a little bit more difficult and also in terms of comparing upgrades on the aerodynamic side, it's difficult because you don't have the same conditions."
The latest upgrade focuses on combustion and attempt to improve power and efficieny. Honda motorsport boss Yasuhisa Arai admitted recently, however, that energy recovery remains "weak".
Another plus for the Japanese manufacturer is that it appears in-season development will be allowed again in 2016.
"I think it's good for the sport," Alonso said. "It's something that Honda has been asking for all year long, so I think this is good news for us, good news for Renault, I guess, and for Ferrari.
"It's logical and I'm happy."
