McLaren hit with grid penalties, gearbox issue

Fernando Alonso's stoppage in FP2 for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been confirmed as a gearbox problem but both McLaren drivers will still receive grid penalties this weekend.

While accelerating through the middle sector, Alonso slowed with smoke emerging from the rear of his McLaren and took to team radio to tell the team "engine." With the Spaniard stopping on the run down to Turn 16, it was later confirmed by racing director Eric Boullier that the problem was not a Honda one but a McLaren failure.

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"It wasn't an engine failure," Boullier said, responding to a question about the Honda relationship that referenced an engine issue. "It was a gearbox failure.

"Your question is a suggestion, as you said, which is not exactly the truth or the case. Both organizations are working very, very hard to get to where we want to be. The level of friction, let's say, if there is any, is a little bit exacerbated by the media.

"It is true that we have to deliver what we need to do, we have to be where we want to be but both organizations are working hard to deliver and I don't think there is such a drama like in your questions."

Despite the power unit not being to blame for Alonso's stoppage, new components have been taken on both cars this weekend that will result in major grid penalties. Both Alonso and teammate Stoffel Vandoorne have a new turbocharger and MGU-H, which is the sixth component for each of them.

As a result, the drivers each receive a 15-place grid penalty, with the first sixth component used carrying a drop of 10 grid positions and the second one resulting in an additional penalty of five positions. The penalties mean the McLaren drivers are almost certain to start from the back of the grid, with the team having not qualified higher than seventh so far this season.

"Because I couldn't do the long run we had planned today, I [expect] tomorrow, in FP3, I'll start with full tanks and go for a run of 15 to 20 laps to try and recover the track time we lost today," Alonso added. "Because we'll start from the last row due to the penalties, we'll take it easy in qualifying and save as many sets of tires as possible for the race."

Alonso's stoppage saw him finish FP2 in 12th place – 2.2 seconds adrift of Max Verstappen – while Vandoorne was 17th fastest and a further 0.6s off his teammate's time.