Alonso: We also know there is no magic bullet

Since testing, where they encountered heating problems with the Renault power unit, the Woking outfit have been playing catch-up. The reality is that their package is nowhere near that of fellow Renault powered team Red Bull and also lagging behind the French works team.

Management have admitted that the MCL33 that will race in Spain this weekend, already dubbed the MCL33-B, is the car they wanted to roll-out at the season opener in Melbourne, but delays have meant that D-Day for the team is when they unlock the potential of their upgrades during this Friday's free practice in Barcelona.

Speaking ahead of his home race, Alonso said, "I know we have some developments in the pipeline, but we also know there is no magic bullet that will propel us to the front of the grid overnight."

"There has been a lot of work happening at the factory and there is still a lot of work to do – so in Barcelona it’s a chance to evaluate some new things, see where we are, and determine the direction that we take with car development as we progress through the season."

"As always, and especially after the battle we fought in Baku, I’m really looking forward to pushing hard on track again this weekend in front of my home fans."

Alonso last won in Formula 1 when he triumphed on home soil at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, "It’s great to be back in Europe, in Spain, and at home! You can never beat the feeling of racing in front of your home fans."

"I’m very lucky that we get to race in my country of birth as not all drivers get that opportunity, and every year the support from the Spanish fans gets bigger and better. "

Last weekend the Spaniard powered to victory in his World Endurance Championship (WEC) debut at the Spa 6-Hours, sharing the Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 Hybrid with Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima.

The race in Belgium marked the start of a packed schedule for Alonso where he will race in the WEC and F1 in tandem, "The Spanish Grand Prix represents the start of a very busy few months leading up to the summer break – both for McLaren and for me with my other racing commitments."

"I’m more than ready for the challenge and I’m really excited to see what the next few races bring us," added Alonso who has twice won the Spanish Grand Prix.