Fernando to drive MP4-30: McLaren

McLaren has confirmed via a tweet recently that Fernando Alonso will drive the highly anticipated MP4-30 at the first winter test in Jerez starting February 1st. He will drive the car on the first and third day while his team mate, Jenson Button shall take over the steering on days 2 and 4.

The Spaniard is on his second venture with McLaren having first driven for them in 2007. He left his previous team Ferrari after a frustrating five year long career with no championships and sub-par performance car each year.

The MP4-30 marks the return of the Honda McLaren partnership which in the past won four constructors and drivers championship- three with Ayrton Senna and one with Alain Prost between 1988 and 1991. The partnership of 1988 was by far the most dominant with the team winning 15 out of the 16 races.

Despite all the hype that is behind the return of Honda into the sport, Alonso admits that it’ll be a little difficult to win races this year and forecasts a difficult season ahead, although he does target podiums and eventually race wins as well.

Acknowledging to one of his followers on a social media he mentioned that his goal in 2015 at McLaren was to “learn, be happy and, long term, to win.”