McLaren brush off crisis talk after fresh on-track breakdown

McLaren have insisted there is no cause for alarm despite the team hitting fresh trouble in pre-season testing.

Despite a switch to Renault power following three troubled years with Honda, the MCL33 broke down on three separate occasions on the first day of the second and final winter test at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Day Two began promisingly when Fernando Alonso completed 47 laps – approximately two-thirds race distance – in the opening hours, including McLaren’s best time of the winter so far.

F1 Testing: Fastest laps so far

But the optimism crawled to a halt when the McLaren broke down on track, leaving Alonso stranded at Turn Seven and the team hit by a new setback.

“It wasn’t engine related, it was small oil leak,” reported team boss Eric Boullier. “Unfortunately this made the engine die and so we had to change the engine because we want to inspect the engine before we put more mileage on it.”

The change of unit is likely to consign the team to their garage for at least three hours.

McLaren’s MCL33 driven by Fernando Alonso arrives back in the pit-lane smoking on a recovery truck on the second day of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Prior to their arrival in Barcelona, the 20-times world champion targeted setting 100 laps a day during testing. However, with the clock already ticking on day six of eight, it’s a milestone they have so far only managed to reach once.

However, the team’s management group are adamant that there is no reason for concern.

“It’s just testing,” added Boullier as he addressed the press alongside executive director Zak Brown. “We have some little issues and this is just part of the process. It’s a new partnership with Renault and new packaging as well. This is testing, give us time.”

Brown added to Sky Sports News: “I think it’s just natural teething, learning things. All the stuff that we’ve had have been pretty minor which get worked out at testing.

“We know what the issues are, they are all easily fixed. Of course, you would like to do more laps but we don’t think we have any problems so we are not concerned.”

Boullier also denied the intense and tight packaging around the MCL33 was a factor in the car’s latest on-track breakdown although the team admitted on Tuesday night they had made changes to their cooling systems after bodywork ‘burns’ appeared on the car.

“We have tried to design the best car,” said Boullier. “There have been some adjustments but the leak was nothing to do with that.”

McLaren’s winter strife in pre-season testing

Day One	Alonso spins off track in the opening hour of winter testing after a wheel nut isn’t tightened sufficiently. The team complete just 51 laps in total
Day Two	Vandoorne is restricted to only 37 laps after a broken exhaust clip burns through the car’s wiring
Day Three	As with the rest of the field, McLaren spend almost the entire day in the garage after snow falls in Barcelona. But Alonso is the only driver to set a timed lap.
Day Four	A productive day for the team as Vandoorne and Alonso combine to complete 161 laps
Day Five	After an early problem in the pitlane, the MCL33 breaks down on track due to a battery problem. After a three-hour absence, the McLaren returned to action but then broke down against in late afternoon because of a hydraulics issue
Day Six	The McLaren crawls to a halt at Turn Seven due to an oil leak which shuts down the engine