Fernando Alonso believes fourth in the Constructors’ Championship is a target for McLaren after testing the MCL34 on Tuesday.
The double world champion, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of last year, got his first taste of the 2019 car as he completes one-and-a-half days of running a Pirelli test program in Bahrain.
And having endured a tough end to his career with McLaren last year, with a car that proved fundamentally flawed, he was impressed by the potential of its successor.
“Obviously it’s a step forward in every aspect of the car,” he told Motorsport Week.
“I think the car has more grip, the car is less draggy on the straights. The engine is a bigger step better as well.
“Overall, as a package, I think the car is on the right direction.”
With both Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz making the top 10 in qualifying last weekend, and Norris going on to finish sixth, Alonso believes McLaren can set their sights high in the midfield.
“Obviously we saw in the first two races there is still another step to do if you want to compete with the top three teams,” he conceded.
“But as a first step I think, and hopefully consolidate as a fourth team or leading the midfield together with Haas, that’s the target.
“I felt that on the car as well.”
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To achieve that, however, the 37-year-old admits the British team needs to kick a recent habit.
“I think we’ve been working a lot for four or five years in the team, and we never had probably the momentum, or never had the continuity or progress,” Alonso explained.
“We saw some good signs. We finished Bahrain last year, and I was third in the championship or fourth in the championship.
“We had a good start and some good moments, but never the continuation through the year.
“I think this year there is a good baseline and good programme of development, and I think it’s going to be a much better season. I’m happy.
“Especially last year, it was a good start, but then we stopped the development probably in May or June, so that was painful until Abu Dhabi.”