Breaking news
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Painful 2015 was "necessary" for Alonso
Fernando Alonso insists a painful 2015 season was a necessary step in his career to regain his motivation to fight for the F1 title again.
Pablo Elizalde
Edited: Nov 26, 2015, 2:08 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Spanish driver joined McLaren-Honda after five years at Ferrari, but the two-time champion has endured a very difficult season as the package proved slow and unreliable.
With one race to go, Alonso is 16th in the standings with just 11 points, having finished in the top 10 twice in 18 races.
While Alonso admits the season has been frustrating, he reckons the move to McLaren was justified as he needed a new motivation.
And he insisted he still believes in the project despite the poor year.
"It was a tough year," said Alonso. "Obviously difficult and struggling with the pace all year and then reliability, so definitely a difficult season for us.
"But personally I think it was necessary, a step forward in my career after two championships and after five fantastic seasons fighting for the world championship but fighting for second.
"I needed some new motivation and new project I could trust and believe. It is the only way to become champion again and after one difficult season I learned so much.
"I enjoy working with McLaren, with Honda, and the Japanese discipline and culture in the team.
"I still remain very positive and very, very happy, and looking forward to next year being easier than this one, but it was difficult this one in terms of results," added the Spaniard.
2016 impossible to predict
Despite his faith in the McLaren-Honda project, Alonso admits it is impossible to tell what the team will be able to achieve next season.
"I think for 2016 the main goal for the team is to come back to where we belong, being competitive, fighting for the top positions," he said.
"I don't know if that means fighting for world championships, I don't know if it means fighting for victories or just being on podiums.
"It is always difficult to know in the complex world of F1. We have big challenges ahead in the winter, and I see all the things we have done in the last couple of months.
"It seems logical and positive, I am sure, of a different season next year and I am happy with the focus."
Inside Grand Prix video preview
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ricciardo to revert to old-spec Renault engine
Next article Lotus staff don't deserve late-season ordeal - Grosjean
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Pablo Elizalde
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
MotoGP
MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Formula 1
Formula 1
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
More from
Fernando Alonso
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
More from
McLaren
McLaren to upgrade MCL40 car at its bogey F1 track Las Vegas
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
13 h
McLaren to upgrade MCL40 car at its bogey F1 track Las Vegas
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 5 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 6 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
7 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
9 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe