Alonso and Button look to Monaco for strong finish

Alonso and Button look to Monaco for strong finish

McLaren duo Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are looking forward to taking the Honda powered MP4-30 out around the streets of Monaco in late May.

Also, the duo believes that Monaco GP could present McLaren-Honda its best opportunity for a good result in the near future.

Honda-powered MP4-30 has struggled consequently far in this season, trailing with poor power and consistency to compete.

 Progress has been gradually trickling through, but Alonso was still almost two minutes behind winner Lewis Hamilton at the end of the last race in Bahrain.

Honda is introducing an upgraded engine for the Spanish GP but utter power is less important at the following race in Monaco than any other circuit on the calendar.

“I think already in Barcelona you will see a good step,” Button said. But we’ve got a lot happening before Monaco with the car, so hopefully there will be a good step, not just with the power, but also with the aerodynamic grip. I’ve got a good feeling about it.

“There are a few areas where the car needs to be stronger right now for Monaco, if we’re going to go there tomorrow, but it will be an interesting place to drive this car, definitely. It’s such a tricky circuit to find the limit, and if you have a car that you are confident in, it makes a massive difference.

Suggesting Jean Alesi’s run to sixth place in the uncompetitive Prost in 2001, Button adds that confidence in a car counts for a lot around a circuit as Monaco.

“I remember Jean Alesi in a Prost doing a really good job round there because he had confidence in the car and the balance was there. It worked for him and it gave him confidence, and that’s a thing that you need around there.

“You need it anywhere, really. Most drivers are talented, but it’s a real mental game, especially at Monaco, because it’s so unforgiving.”

Fernando Alonso also agrees the opinion of his team-mate.

“Lower power circuits will help us at the moment and Monaco is the circuit we may enjoy a better result, but we will see,” Alonso said. “We need to see race-by-race and Barcelona is the first step…”

(fonte:http://www.gptoday.com/)

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