Zak Brown predicts 'solid season' for McLaren

  • Published on 31 Jan 2018 12:27
  • comments 5
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Zak Brown insists formula one will remain Fernando Alonso's "number 1 priority" in 2018. That is despite the fact that it has been announced officially that the Spanish driver will contest not only Le Mans, but other WEC sports car races for Toyota this year.

But McLaren executive Brown told the Spanish sports daily AS that Alonso will not miss any grands prix. "His priority is formula one, so we are open to other racing activities provided that formula one, which is his number 1 priority, is not compromised in any way," he said.

Alonso missed Monaco for the Indy 500 last year, but the big difference in 2018 is that McLaren is now expecting to field a much more competitive Renault-powered car. "Everything is going really well with the design of the car," Brown revealed.

"We just passed the crash test and everything has gone according to plan. We are going to present the car on February 23 and be on track for the first time on February 26. All the simulations put us where we wanted to be last year. Sometimes the simulations don't work when you go to the track, but last year it worked more often than not so I think we're going to have a solid season," Brown added. (GMM)

Replies (5)

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  • Could they tone it down just a bit? It's been three years of this empty promises, I am more hopeful than in several years. I'd prefer for them to keep a low key profile until the first they of practice and they do 100 laps

    • + 0
    • Jan 31 2018 - 18:49
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    The more they say they are going to have a great season the more I believe that they are in trouble. Not a peep out of Mercedes/Ferrari/Redbull. Like aj I believe that the better course of action would be to the talking on the track.

    • + 0
    • Jan 31 2018 - 23:45
    • Im pretty sure this bulshittery is why McLaren are losing fans. They've bern talking this talk for how long now? Pretty sure its at least been since 2013.

      • + 0
      • Feb 1 2018 - 06:17
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Zak needs to make up his mind. Last week McLaren were “heading back to the front” but this week, they are just going to have a “solid season” which is also what you might say if you expected to be midfield. So he has toned it down already. I fear Ron Dennis left his “Implausible Promises” handbook in his desk when he left, and Zak has been flipping through it.

    • + 0
    • Feb 1 2018 - 11:19
  • Bhurt

    Posts: 320

    I predict that Zak Brown will find more microphones before the end of the week. Unfortunately.

    • + 0
    • Feb 1 2018 - 23:09

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