F1: Alonso says it's time for McLaren to focus on 2016

Fernando Alonso has suggested it is time for McLaren-Honda to concentrate on next year's Formula 1 car following the problems it has encountered so far this season.

Alonso and teammate Jenson Button head into this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix on the brink of taking heavy penalties as their cars have each used four internal combustion engines after issues at the last race in Canada.

Button is currently on his fifth MGU-H and turbocharger as both were replaced in Montreal, resulting in a drivethrough penalty early in a race he started at the back of the grid, after being unable to take part in qualifying due to an ERS-related failure.

While Alonso acknowledges improvements have been made by McLaren-Honda this season, the double world champion feels the focus should now turn to 2016.

"With the position we are in and the performance we have, I think concentrating on next year is the clever option for us now," he said. "I don't have any problem starting every single race from the pit lane if we keep improving the car. That's the main priority now, to concentrate on next year's performance, so let's see what the team can offer.

"I do think the progress has been quite amazing until now, so the second part of the season is a question mark for us, but we are all very optimistic."

Button, meanwhile, believes it would be a step too far if McLaren-Honda opted to abandon the season completely and turn all resources on to the 2016 challenger.

"You can't write off this year – there are no regulation changes," said Button. "We're here to develop, to make the car quicker and do the best job we can in the races.

"So of course next year is obviously going to be a more exciting year, and hopefully we can challenge from the front. But to do the development you need to push it and see what you can do every race, so the development's been going in the right direction.

"Obviously, we've had more issues than we'd like. Hopefully we can resolve them, because otherwise the pace has been reasonably good."

Originally on Autosport.com