Alonso motivated by McLaren's 'race-winning engine'

McLaren sporting director Eric Boullier says Fernando Alonso is re-energised for 2018, hailing the positivity brought to the whole team by their "race-winning" Renault power unit. McLaren are on the road to redemption this year after three miserable campaigns with Honda engines.

Alonso's last podium finish remains the third place in China he scored with Ferrari in 2014, his last race win came with the Scueria in Spain the year before.

With an underpowered and unreliable Honda in the back of his car, Alonso's best result since returning to McLaren are fifth-place finishes he managed in USA and Monaco in 2016, as well as Hungary in his first season back.

Although Renault have struggled to match the ultimate power of Mercedes and Ferrari, much to Red Bull's annoyance, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen have shared five victories between them in the past two seasons.

And Boullier believes the genuine prospect of podiums and wins have given Alonso a new lease of life in 2018.

Boullier told Autosport said: "Watch him, it's a different Fernando here this year.

Una semana para el comienzo del primero de los dos campeonatos del mundo que hago este año. La temporada número 18 en la F1. Estamos listos ??

One week to start the first of the two world championships I attempt this year. My 18th season in F1. Ready and happy ??. pic.twitter.com/zoCTjXvcn8 — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) March 18, 2018

"He's happy, yes. He's a competitor, so he wants the best of the best and he wants more, always.

"Alonso is in a different mindset this year. He's spending a lot of time [with the team] even when he's not driving the car, so he's quite interested and supportive of what we are doing."

McLaren suffered numerous breakdowns in testing as they struggled with the switchover to their new power units, but Boullier says the performance levels they are now capable of has changed the atmosphere completely.

"You know you have a race-winning engine in the back of the car," Boullier added.

"So, you might not be the best in the pitlane but it's still good enough to fight for podiums and race wins.

"Clearly there is a big boost in terms of morale for the team, a bit of excitement.

"I have to say I was impressed in the last three years, McLaren keeping the motivation, trying to be the best race car and the change is a massive boost.

"We had to reset a little bit the mindset to move into finding performance in the car, in the race team, in the operation of the team, which we had lost a little bit."