Alonso: McLaren must hope F1 rivals don't improve

Fernando Alonso remains unconvinced that McLaren's planned upgrades for the Spanish Grand Prix will help the team vault into contention for greater success in Formula 1. Reports have suggested that McLaren's machine will be almost entirely new at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The switch from Honda to Renault power units has helped Alonso achieve points finishes in every race so far this season - only Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel can match that feat.

Although reliability has been bolstered, McLaren are yet to unlock the full power of the Renault engine and are yet to reach Q3 at any event.

The similarly powered Red Bull team's victory in China gives McLaren something to aim for, but Alonso - fresh off his victory with Toyota on his World Endurance Championship debut - is biding his time until he hits the track.

"In Barcelona there is a new aero package coming, but I think 95 per cent of the paddock is bringing a new aero package to Barcelona," Alonso said.

"So, maybe the gap remains as it is, or we just recover a little bit, or we lose more ground.

"Who knows? I think it is up to us to make that package work to expectations and hopefully some others, they don't deliver.

"That is our hope."

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The team's sporting director Eric Boullier says the upgrades will not stop at Barcelona as McLaren try desperately to get back to the top of the sport.

"There is a new direction maybe starting from Barcelona and you cannot expect, as Fernando said, to jump everybody," said Boullier.

"Everybody is bringing parts, everybody is bringing a package, especially for the first European races.

"Monaco will be another upgrade, Canada will be another upgrade and Silverstone as well.

"It is every race."