Alonso: It's a brutal gap and we must be cautious

McLaren driver Fernando Alonso played down his team's chances of victories in 2017 and believes Mercedes still hold the upper hand despite the new rules for the new Formula 1 season.

Alonso told fans in an Instagram interview, "Victories? I think we have to be cautious. I have read that Zak [Brown] said this year that it will be difficult to win... who knows? I keep positive.

"We have to be careful in the races at the end of last year we were a second or a second and a half off Mercedes. It's a brutal gap and we must be cautious. We will see the result at the end. It is too early to make predictions."

"Surely Mercedes are on a trajectory to lead having won the last three world championship as they have done. Then Red Bull will adapt well to the new rules, but we will have to see how we all adapt."

"We really do not know still. F1 is always an unknown, but this year that is even more so," added the two times F1 World Champion.

He believes that he is in the top form of his career, claiming that he drove better than ever in 2016 despite the lack of results thanks to an uncompetitive package at his disposal.

"I'm better than ever," said Alonso. "I'm preparing as never before and I'm going to go for it. Who knows what will really happen, I'm going to do it all."

The 35 year old, who has also made no secret in the past that he is expecting a wow-factor from the new cars, and replied when asked if 2017 would be his final year in F1, "We'll see. We'll go step by step."