Alonso: Honda performance was never there

When asked to pinpoint a highlight of the past three years, Alonso replied, "It's difficult to pick out one race because obviously the performance was never there. Even the P5 of Monaco last year was still not as fun as it should be."

In three seasons with Honda engines bolted to his McLaren, Alonso's best results were three fifth places.

The double F1 world champion was asked what he considered the highlight of 2017 and responded, "Indianapolis. It was the only time we were competitive."

On the positive side, Alonso pointed out, "What I take from the last three years is the commitment and the spirit of the team. There was not a single person giving up with the performance we had. That is the lesson I will keep for longer."

Much was expected of Alonso's 'second coming' to McLaren. Afterall the Woking outfit had enjoyed glory years when they partnered with Honda in the eighties. Much was expected of the second edition of the partnership.

But instead of victories, it was failures and humiliation for both great manufacturers.

Alonso admits, "I personally had a lot of expectations for the McLaren-Honda project. That was probably the reason I changed from Ferrari because McLaren-Honda was very attractive partnership after the success they had in the past."

"We didn't achieve the results we wanted in the last three years, we didn't perform as we expect so I think now it's time to change."

With Mercedes and Ferrari refusing to supply McLaren, Renault was the only other alternative which the team's management seized upon.

Alonso won his two F1 world titles driving for Renault in 2005 and 2006, "I'm quite optimistic, seeing what Red Bull is doing right now with the Renault power unit. It's still missing a little bit but overall you fight for podiums and race wins, and that's a very different picture to what we have right now at McLaren.

"I consider Renault my friends and second family so it will be great. They are a very, very good company and have a very good engine. I have zero doubts," added the Spaniard.