Amid mounting reports that a McLaren-Honda split are on the cards, even this year, things went from bad to worse for the partnership as Fernando Alonso coasted to a stop after only completing 13 laps in the opening free practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Alonso’s MCL32 lost hydraulic pressure, which affected steering and gearshifts, causing him to coast to a halt at Turn 10 and threw the headrest back into the car. His frustration clear.
Fans in the grandstands stood and cheered for the Spaniard who waved to the crowd, after which he was seen joking with marshals while waiting for a lift back to the pits.
When approached by reporters when he returned to the paddock he explained, “The gearbox was doing strange things. We’re used to it.”
“It’s difficult to switch back from IndyCar to here so the first laps I was just trying to get a feel,” added Alonso who has yet to score a point so far this season.