Fernando Alonso says the early reliability of the MP4-22 has been the aspect of the new McLaren that has impressed him the most during testing at Valencia this week.
The double world champion has topped the times on both of the first two days of the year's first multi-team test at the Spanish circuit and has completed the most laps (193) of any driver.
The MP4-22's recent predecessors have often been fast but fragile, with the team’s race reliability record some way behind those of chief rivals Ferrari and Renault.
But following a few initial gremlins at the same track last week, Alonso says that the MP4-22’s reliability, and not its chart-topping pace, has impressed him the most.
"The car is going well and it's not true that we have reliability issues,” he was quoted as saying by the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
“On Tuesday I stopped at the end of the session for a fuel scavenging test.
“There are a few things to be improved, and I am still adapting to the car.
“But I every time I drive I feel better.
“If had to say what thing pleases me the most I would say the reliability.”
The 25-year-old says he has also been pleased by the speed with which the team has adapted to the 2007-spec Bridgestone tyres.
Excluding its exclusive test at Valencia last week, a McLaren driver has topped the last five test days that the team has been involved in and Alonso believes such form highlights the pace of its transition to the Japanese rubber.
"It would seem to me that compared to the other teams McLaren has adapted best to the Bridgestone tyres," he said.
Source: Itv.com/f1
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