Fernando Alonso — 2015 season

Fernando Alonso's 2015 Formula 1 season was defined by the highly anticipated, yet ultimately difficult, reunion of McLaren and Honda, a partnership that struggled profoundly with reliability and performance from the outset.

Going in

Alonso arrived at McLaren after five seasons with Ferrari, seeking a new challenge and believing in the potential of the revived McLaren-Honda alliance to deliver championship contention. His departure from Ferrari after the 2014 season was a calculated risk, betting on a new engine manufacturer in the turbo-hybrid era. The expectation was that the combined heritage of McLaren's chassis expertise and Honda's engine prowess would quickly challenge the established front-runners, particularly Mercedes, which had dominated the previous year. However, pre-season testing quickly revealed significant issues with the Honda power unit, hinting at the difficult year ahead for the team and its drivers.

How it played out

The season unfolded as a relentless battle against underperformance and mechanical failures. The Honda power unit consistently lacked both power and reliability, leading to frequent grid penalties and a high rate of retirements. Alonso recorded 7 DNFs across the 18 races he competed in, often due to power unit, gearbox, or electrical issues. His first race of the season, the Malaysian Grand Prix, ended prematurely with a power unit failure after only 21 laps, setting a frustrating pattern. Despite his best efforts, often extracting more from the car than its capabilities suggested, points finishes were rare. He finished the season with a total of 11 points, placing him 17th in the World Drivers' Championship, a stark contrast to his career trajectory prior to this season.

Defining moments

Amidst the struggles, there were glimpses of Alonso's enduring skill and determination. His first point of the season came at the British Grand Prix, where he finished 10th, albeit a lap down. The standout performance, however, was at the Hungarian Grand Prix. On a circuit that minimized the power deficit, Alonso managed to bring the McLaren-Honda home in 5th position, securing 10 points—the vast majority of his season's tally. This result was a testament to his driving and the team's strategic execution on a day when many competitors faced issues. Conversely, races like the Mexican Grand Prix, where he retired on the very first lap due to a power unit issue, underscored the persistent mechanical fragility that plagued the entire season for McLaren-Honda.