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McLaren says Honda troubles "unexpected"

McLaren says its troubled start to pre-season Formula 1 testing came as a surprise to the team, after the new Honda engine had run trouble-free during a filming day on Sunday.

McLaren team members push the McLaren MCL32 of Fernando Alonso, McLaren, in the pit lane

McLaren team members push the McLaren MCL32 of Fernando Alonso, McLaren, in the pit lane

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Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32
Fernando Alonso, McLaren, exits his garage carrying sensor equipment
Fernando Alonso, McLaren, puts on his gloves in his cockpit
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32
Fernando Alonso, McLaren, lowers himself into the cockpit
Fernando Alonso, McLaren MCL32
Fernando Alonso, McLaren, puts on his gloves in his cockpit
McLaren team members push the McLaren MCL32 of Fernando Alonso, McLaren, in the pit lane

Fernando Alonso only managed to complete an installation lap in the first morning of testing after an oil system problem left him sidelined in the garage.

There were further mechanical hiccups with a fresh engine that was fitted later in the afternoon as the team finally managed to get some laps on the board.

But rather than view that stuttering start as a precursor to fresh troubles with Honda, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said the situation was slightly baffling because Alonso had completed 100km without issues on Sunday.

"We had an oil system problem and that is all we know now," said Boullier, when asked by Motorsport.com about the team's situation.

"Honda has asked for the power unit to be sent back, and they are investigating what is going on and Honda will tell us what happened.

"It is obviously disappointing because yesterday we had a filming day, we did our 100km and more or less everything went right, so today it was a bit of a surprise to have this problem with the power unit. But we have to wait for Honda to come back to us."

With good progress from Honda expected to be key to Alonso's future at McLaren beyond the end of this year, Boullier said the troubles had not been ideal.

"Obviously he knows minute after minute what is going on, so he was not very happy this morning," explained Boullier about Alonso's reaction.

"But he was here yesterday so he drove the car yesterday for a few laps and he got a feel for the car, and I guess he was rather happy than unhappy yesterday. That is what he felt.

"But it was just a filming day with demo tyres, but he could already have a feel of the car. This morning was obviously unexpected and this is what it is. We are here to test as well, we are here to make sure that everything will be in order in Australia."

Honda strains

Boullier was insistent that the difficult start to testing did not share any similarities with its troubled preparations for 2015, and he also suggested the matter would not put fresh strains on the team's relationship with its Japanese engine partner.

"I think it is like any marriage: you can have some ups and downs," he said. "So far we went through a lot of stress in the last couple of years but we have built a positive and constructive relationship, so I don't expect this to change for the future."

Asked how Honda had reacted to what had happened, Boullier said: "I think they reacted as professional as you would expect.

"They were disappointed and rather than obviously driving everybody nuts around they just sat down, organised calls with Sakura in Japan and also we had some meetings together with us: just to start to maybe help an investigation, and also to decide what to do.

"This is why we decided to work together to take his PU off the car to let's say not let any suspicious thing stay on the car."

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