Alonso: top Formula 1 teams still in 'another league' from McLaren
McLaren's Fernando Alonso admits the top Formula 1 teams are still in "another league" from McLaren, despite producing his best qualifying of the 2018 season for the Spanish Grand Prix
McLaren has introduced what it labelled its "real" 2018 F1 car for Barcelona, with several upgrades that Alonso praised after Friday practice.
The Spaniard made it into Q3 for the first time this year, qualifying eighth, albeit over 1.5 seconds off the pace of polesitter Lewis Hamilton.
Alonso admitted the result left him with mixed feelings, happy that McLaren has taken a step forward but aware that the gap to the front is still significant.
"We had been P13 three times in a row and today we took that step forward we needed," Alonso told Sky Sports F1.
"Probably the downside of this position is still the gap, with the top six, they are in another league. And we need to keep chasing and closing that gap race after race.
"At least the positive note is that everything we brought for the car works as expected. Now we need to bring more things as quickly as possible."
Alonso reiterated his view that the car he is racing this weekend should have been available for the start of the season in Australia.
"This package is making me happy. In another way, this car, is supposed to be the Australian Grand Prix package," he added.
"That delay, on the first improvement, and having it not at the first races, having it here, probably put us in a difficult position in the first races.
"We saved them with a lot of points on Sundays with a little bit of luck and good races, but now we need to push the development and we need to bring new parts every single race."
Alonso is the only driver in the top 10 who will start with supersoft tyres, having set his fastest time in Q2 with them. His closest rivals will all start on softs.
The red-walled supersofts have been regarded as the weakest tyres so far this weekend, but the McLaren driver is hopeful the expected rain will make Saturday's tyre selections irrelevant.
"The mediums work well and the yellow ones too, maybe better than the reds, and I think tomorrow they will be everybody's favourite," Alonso said.
"I have to start with the reds because I did Q2 with the reds, but if it rains tomorrow we'll all start with intermediates or wets and everything that happened today doesn't count much."
Lewis Hamilton takes F1 pole position for Spanish Grand Prix
Formula 1: Spanish GP practice crash one of my biggest - Hartley
2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver
2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver 2021 IndyCar champion Palou joins McLaren as F1 reserve driver
Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction"
Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction" Alonso: US GP protest decision will dictate if F1 is heading in "right direction"
The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix
The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix The story of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains “throwing me to the lions” radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status
The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26 FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.