SHANGHAI, China -- Fernando Alonso has denied suggestions he will leave McLaren this year, saying he is still motivated to outperform his car at every round of the championship regardless of where it stacks up against the competition.
Honda's performance deficit to its rival engine manufacturers has left McLaren off the pace for the third season in a row this year, with Alonso saying that the MCL32 was the slowest car on the grid at the opening race in Australia. He managed to drag the car up to tenth place in Melbourne before a brake duct came loose and damaged aero elements on one side of the car, seriously affecting its handling and forcing him to retire.