Alonso excited by McLaren-Honda partnership

Fernando Alonso Jenson Button - cropped

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has expressed excitement at the prospect of driving McLaren's new Honda-powered car in 2015.

Alonso is back with McLaren, where he spent a solitary season in 2007 before subsequent moves to Renault and Ferrari, and will race alongside Jenson Button this year.

During the Spaniard's last stint at the English marque, McLaren's cars contained Mercedes engines.

However, this year marks the start of a new partnership with Honda, who teamed up with McLaren to deliver a period of consistent success between 1988 and 1992.

Having watched on as a child as the likes of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost flourished in a McLaren-Honda car, Alonso, 33, is eager to play his part in bringing fresh success.

"I feel very proud and very honoured to be a part of this team," said Alonso on Thursday at the launch of the new McLaren MP4-30.

"I grew up as a child watching the McLaren-Honda domination in Formula One. And now I have this opportunity and this big privilege to be back with them and to start from zero in this new era.

"I am ready to work ready to learn ready to discover many things together to try and hopefully succeed in this new chapter.

"The new car is looking good, a very interesting project. What I felt and what I heard from the engineers and designers, I'm looking forward to testing the car and have a feel but for sure there is a new philosophy in the team and a new way of approaching the car and everyone is so excited with this partnership with Honda as well, and there are many things I think we can do.

"It is still a lot of work for sure because it is all new for all of us, and I see a lot of interesting parts of the project for everybody and that is a good thing. I think we have to be ready now to learn.

"Obviously we are here to win so the goal is to win, it is nothing more than that. I think we need to be ready to work as a team, very united to achieve that win as soon as possible."

Button, world champion with Brawn-Mercedes in 2009, also harked back to McLaren-Honda's golden era before discussing his goals for 2015.

"When you think of the best fights in motorsport you would go back to the 80s and Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna driving for McLaren-Honda," said the Englishman.

"So there is a lot for us to live up to. those were great fights back then but this is a new era and I think we're all very excited about this new era of McLaren and Honda working together again.

"You go into every season, especially with a team like McLaren hoping and thinking that you can fight for victories. Obviously it is a little bit different this year because Honda aren't as experienced with this engine as the other teams so it is not going to be an easy season for us but I do know that Honda will throw everything at this to have a good season.

"The first few weeks of the season are going to be tough but hopefully we will learn a lot which will put us in a good position for race one."

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