McLaren play down expectations ahead of Bahrain

McLaren-Honda and its quest to rise from the back of the field, qualifying and the race in Shanghai did not deliver the promise that earlier practice sessions had.

"We should not be too optimistic," Fernando Alonso admitted to EFE news agency, "because within days we will be in Bahrain and the car will be much the same as it was here."

Team boss Eric Boullier, however, was offering slightly more hope, saying new aerodynamic parts and mechanical developments are being added to the MP4-30 "at each grand prix".

"We have practically a new car at every race," he is quoted by Speed Week.