Honda’s return to Formula One continues to be plagued by reliability and technical issue’s McLaren has been forced to spend more time in the pit garage during pre-season testing in Barcelona then to accumulate time and laps out on the circuit. Reports suggest that McLaren F1 are beginning to despair of Honda’s inability to provide a reliable power unit, for now there appears to be a PR driven ‘united front’. Formula One is highly micro managed by PR professionals and press releases in order to get the correct positive message out to it’s intended audience. When negative headlines rain down it doesn’t look good for the party concerned and corporate pride and potential sales are at risk. Fernando Alonso is one driver who isn’t concerned about being diplomatic, he ‘shoots to kill’ with a barrage of criticism, but only when it’s absolutely necessary, yesterday was the day. McLaren Honda’s pre-season testing has been mired in turmoil from day one. McLaren Honda have completed the least amount of laps, where as many teams have driven thousands of miles McLaren Honda have driven hundreds. With two days of pre-season testing remaining the clock is ticking and McLaren are running out of time, laps, miles and engines. Fernando Alonso spoke candidly as ever “We have only one problem: that is the power unit,” he said. “There is no reliability and there is no power. I think we are 30 km/h down on every straight. When you are 30 km/h down on every straight, it is difficult also to have a feeling on the car. Everything feels good, but when you arrive to normal speed you don’t know what is going to happen”. Honda have said that the 2017 spec engine will have as much power as Mercedes had at the end of last season. However Alonso says the Honda V6 engine is actually down on power from 2016 but seemed optimistic that Honda would up the power for the Australian GP on March 27. Alonso said he is enjoying driving this years McLaren and feels if Honda could up their game in the engine department he could challenge for podiums and victories. “The chassis side is difficult because we are not pushing probably the speed that the others are doing because of a lack of power. The chassis everything feels good, everything feels under control. The car is responding well to changes and everything is working fine. I’m happy with the balance, I’m happy with how I attack the corner. I’m enjoying driving this car, so I don’t think that we are too far back in terms of chassis side.” Will Honda do a Barcelona vs PSG and perform a miracle back from the brink U-turn? Honda in F1 have been great before and can be great again but it seems that Alonso and McLaren will have to endure yet another season of frustration.