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Spaniards back Alonso to succeed at McLaren

Spaniards back Alonso to succeed at McLaren

  • Published on 07 Apr 2015 15:22
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Two of Fernando Alonso's countrymen have backed the Spaniard to eventually succeed at the wheel of a McLaren-Honda. McLaren's early 2015 struggle, and his Ferrari successor Sebastian Vettel's Malaysia breakthrough, caused many observers to question Alonso's decision to switch teams over the winter.

But Roberto Merhi, a Spanish rookie for the Manor team, said it is not fair to surmise that Alonso made a poor choice in leaving Ferrari just as it was about to make a giant leap forwards. "Nobody was expecting them to make that jump," the 24-year-old told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

"Those criticisms of Fernando are not justified. Formula one is a very complex sport, and so choosing a team is often a pure lottery," Merhi said. "Let's wait and see what happens by the end of the season or maybe even in a couple of years, because he always said that it was a medium-term commitment."

Asked if he thinks McLaren-Honda can improve after its woeful start in 2015, Merhi insisted: "They already have. Between Australia and Malaysia they made great progress," he added.

Meanwhile, the president of Spain's motor racing federation, Carlos Gracia, also backed Alonso's decision to leave Ferrari for McLaren. "The Ferrari story was very complicated," he told El Confidencial newspaper. "I would have liked to have seen Fernando in this Ferrari, but his prospects now are also very good and we must respect his decision," said Gracia.

"Honda has not returned to be a spectator, and while we talk about Ferrari, McLaren is also a team of great tradition that will use every means to develop the car. I think by Spain or Monaco he will begin to be in contention, if not for victory then for a podium," he added. (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Sebastian Vettel Roberto Merhi Ferrari McLaren Manor Motorsport Honda

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Date
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
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Marina Bay Street Circuit
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Circuit of the Americas
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Losail International Circuit
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Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
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24 - May 26
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21 - Jun 23
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26 - Jul 28
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13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
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18 - Oct 20
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Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 564
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 165
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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