'Impossible' to predict where McLaren will finish - Alonso

Fernando Alonso has confessed that, although he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of his new MCL33 McLaren vehicle in the 2018 campaign, he has stopped short of providing a specific prediction for where the team will finish, saying it would be "impossible".

Over the past few years, McLaren have struggled to compete at a high level in Formula One, with seasons continually being hounded by engine reliability issues from their Honda power units. The situation got so bad last year that the team opted to terminate the contract with the Japanese manufacturer, opting for Renault parts instead.

Two-time F1 champion Alonso, in particular, took the struggles to heart, and reportedly punched a hole through the wall in his quarters during a race last season in which his engine failed him at the first corner.

He remains, however, much more upbeat about McLaren's chances this campaign, even if he doesn't want to set specific targets.

"Our car showed a lot of potential in the winter tests, although we still have a lot to work on," Alonso said.

”We already have a good amount of information about the parts and how they work together. It's impossible to make any kind of prediction for the season, Melbourne is a great circuit and I'm excited to see what we can do.

"Australia is the first real test and we have to work all weekend to get ourselves ready. It's finally time to race, I have a busy season ahead of me.

"I'm really excited to get behind the wheel of the MCL33 in the first race of the year."

Alonso has cut a frustrated figure in recent years due to the lack of success both personally and with the team, but McLaren boss Eric Boullier insists the Spaniard has a different aura about him in 2018.

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

"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."