"A friend text me yesterday and said that even on TV someone had said I was leaving at the end of the year, that I'd have a year on gardening leave, and then I'd take over as team principal of a team.

"Well, that's news to me. It's complete nonsense."

Alonso on instagram live.....


FIRST WEEK OF TESTING
"We had a difficult week in terms of reliability, too many problems on day one. We completed a pretty good filming day on Sunday and then on Monday during the real test we had complications, but in the end, thats what preseason´s about, trying to learn and improve the car, and we were improving throughout the week and hopefully next week and in Australia we are in a better situation. I have prepared all winter to reach the top. I´m better than ever and I am enjoying every lap because the cars give you a feeling of speed. Alas, having engine reliability problems, has slowed our development, "said Alonso.

"I think we can do long and consistant long runs with the engine at full power. Last week we could´ve done long runs, but with the loss of the first day, we thought it was better to do short runs, since it was better to do five lap laps with 18 different settings instead of eight outings of 15 laps each. It was a difficult week but we have collected a lot of useful information. "



SECOND WEEK
"I think there will be no problems with overtaking this year. Following the cars up close will be more difficult because of the turbulence, but the overtaking is regulated a little by the tyre compounds. If you come out of box with soft against another that has chose mediums, you will overtake him without problems ".

"McLaren and all the other teams will have new bits and parts to test next week. In the first week you hide all the new parts and the true evolution of the car is shown in Australia."



RED BULL, TITLE FAVORITES FOR ALONSO
"The tests are useless. In my opinion, the strongest team to challenge for the World Cup is Red Bull right now. Nobody bets on them because they´re trusting lap times, but they have not seen anything. They do the same to us every year. At Australia they arrive with a car that has nothing to do with the one shown during tests. I´m not one to make predictions and it will be difficult to beat Mercedes coming as favorites.



GOING TO MERCEDES IN 2017, IT WAS NEVER AN OPTION
"I understand the pessimism because we have not had a good week, but there are teams that have done less laps and with worse times, and I think it does not make much sense to speculate. I think we could have made a low 1:19 easily, but just like everyone else , maybe Mercedes could do a low 1:17, so lets not trust lap times ".

"When Rosberg left they made calls to everybody and well, it was not an option to go to Mercedes in 2017 because I have a contract with McLaren. I do not know what they´re talking about in Mercedes about 2007, which are things that do not make much sense."
THE MCL32 CHASSIS

"The chassis is going well. I think it has a good base and I could feel good grip on corners, and like all teams, what we are testing in Barcelona has nothing to do with what we will run with in Australia, which will be a chassis with even more grip ".



IS A PODIUM POSSIBLE FOR 2017?
"I wish I was on the podium this year, I'm going all out for it. I am very excited to achieve good results. I feel super good, today I have done 80 minutes of continuous running plus gym workout. I'm pumped!. "

RENEWAL
"we'll see about that. Theres nothing new in regards to this matter. I wont be thinking about next year until summer, so for now my focus is on racing. I still have a lot of racing years in me, but lets see how things turn out. I'm only 35 years old and I have many years of competition within me. "


RETURN TO RENAULT, DISCARDED
"I wouldnt like to drive for Renault again, for real. They will always be in my heart and I will always be their follower, but with the new rules we must first see which team dominates and then you would choose to pilot for the winning team. I hope Renault is able to win again, but for now I just concentrate on winning with McLaren. "

ABOUT YOUR NEW TEAM PARTNER
"Stoffel (Vandoorne) has enormous talent so I expect a very fast teammate. There's a great atmosphere and I've known him for three years, we'll have a good time and hopefully we can compete."

THE NEW TIRES
"Good impressions with the new tires, I have not tried them in the wet, but on dry they have more grip and last longer, and they look more spectacular thanks to the width."

MORE FUN RACES IN 2017?
"I do not think races are going to be more fun." The new rules affect cars, not the show. It's still a 'normal' F1 in that sense, there have been no revolutions for 2017. "

WHICH CIRCUIT WILL SEE THE MOST CHANGES THIS YEAR?
"In Monaco, Singapore ... urban circuits will be more fun this year thanks to the extra grip."

LIBERTY MEDIA
"I think during the tests we saw the new videos and more aspects in social networks, and thus far we have not received notifications that we can not publish videos, something that in the past we could not. I'm sure they'll have new ideas and I'm happy with the changes.

SUPPORT OF THE FANS
"I have never stopped feeling the support of the fans. I have been in F1 for many years and I have been fortunate to be in competitive places almost all the time and in these last few championships that hasnt been the case, I´ve felt the same or even more support."

MANORS DEMISE
"Unfortunately, F1 is like this, it's difficult to remain and it's tremendously difficult to be economically viable. Small teams have it worse, and if they´re fighting for the last positions...

MOTORS V10
"I miss the V10 engines. Surely we all miss their sounds. F1 doesnt deserve the current engines but surely they will be the future, so you have to get used to it. "

FORMULA E
"The truth is that I do not follow it much or seen it live to be able to have a say. Maybe it is the future, but for now I think it lacks a bit, but surely they are fun races because they are more accessible for people because most of them are “street/urban” races We have to give it time. "

YOUR BOOK
"We are in the first talks and the first preparations. It is under way and I tell you that soon we will have

With F1 engines now operating on a closed system – the engine sump breather having to vent in to the main engine air intake system – the possibility of using oil as fuel has increased as it is more likely to get sucked into the chamber.

But such an action would in theory be in breach of the rules, because manufacturers are strictly limited in terms of the chemicals that can be used to power the engines.

However, the FIA acknowledged that it was impossible to rule out some 'consumption' of oil to take place when the engine was used.