- McLaren
Low expectations for McLaren in Oz - Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen says he goes into the Australian Grand Prix with low expectations after McLaren's slow start to life with Honda power.
Reserve driver Magnussen is standing in for Fernando Alonso in Melbourne as the Spaniard sits out on medical advice after suffering concussion in a crash during the second pre-season test. Alonso's crash compounded a miserable winter for McLaren as it was hampered by numerous issues, with Magnussen only completing 39 laps on his solitary day behind the wheel.
Over the winter racing director Eric Boullier said McLaren will not be fully competitive until the European races and Magnussen shares the view of his team boss.
"I would say quite low," Magnussen said of the team's expectations for the first few races. "We are obviously struggling with reliability and making the car run for a long time, but also this is a new start for McLaren and it is going to take time. But it is the right direction that the team has decided to go and I think it has a bright future ahead of it. It is going to take time, but I am sure they will get there."
On a personal level Magnussen admits his limited time behind the wheel is not ideal but says he feels prepared nonetheless.
"I didn't get as many laps as I thought I'd get. I hoped to have a maximum of 150 laps in a day if everything runs perfectly, but I got nearly 40 laps and nearly all of them were low fuel so at least I am pretty prepared for that."
When asked about whether he will be racing in Alonso's place again in Malaysia, Magnussen stayed coy. "You'll have to wait. I am not the right person to ask, I don't know."
On Alonso, he said: "I haven't been in contact with him, only on Twitter when he said 'good luck' and I said 'thanks'. I haven't asked him how he is feeling, I hear he is going well. I am just focussing on this race and wishing him all the best."
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