Dennis declares same drivers for 2016 as drivers vent frustration

Fernando Alonso finished 11th in today’s Japanese Grand Prix, and the Spaniard was unimpressed by the car’s lack of straight line speed at Honda’s home race.

Over team radio he broadcasted his frustration to the world, comparing the Honda power unit to a GP2 engine and saying their pace is “embarrassing”.

After the race, Alonso said: “There's not much to enjoy on track. Obviously it's frustrating how they overtake you on the straights and then you arrive at the corner and you see them braking late, making mistakes - you take the corner perfectly and you are recovering time and they just overtake you on the straights.

“Days like today you feel a bit embarrassed. It's not possible some guys overtake you like this - we should be more competitive. But this is the way it is and hopefully we can learn lessons from this kind of races.”

Jenson Button finished 16th and said: "I can't do anything to keep other cars behind, they are so much faster on the straights. We are doing our best, we just have to keep heads down and focus. We're finding it tough as drivers, the team are finding it tough, but I think what is coming is positive - it's just going to hurt for the rest of the season."

McLaren’s driver line-up have been the centre of much speculation this weekend. Button was expected to announce his retirement from F1, and Alonso has now been rumoured for an exit from the sport as both grow impatient of Honda’s lack of progress.

“What is simpler than they've all got contracts, everyone has to live by their contracts, why don't you just leave it at that?" Ron Dennis said to Sky Sports F1, “Jenson has a two-year contract, Fernando has a three-year contract. They vent their frustration, and we're all disappointed and that leads to demotivation, but at the end of the day they have agreements in place.

“We want both of them in the team, and it's as simple as that. Emotions run high after a grand prix, but we will have a winning team sooner or later. We haven't forgotten how to win."

However, when Alonso was asked if he would be in F1 next year, his response was: “I don’t know.”

Dennis also revealed that McLaren will be announcing a new sponsor next week, something that the team have been in search of since their previous title sponsor Vodafone left at the end of 2013.

#f1 #F1