Highlights

Alonso says McLaren not up to speed yet

(AFP)
Updated: 2007-02-09 10:04

JEREZ, Spain - Reigning champion Fernando Alonso said he believed his McLaren-Mercedes had some way to go before it could deliver victories in the new season, starting next month in Australia.

Swapping Renault, for whom he delivered the drivers title in the past two seasons, for McLaren has only increased the Spaniard's appetite to show he can manage a repeat for a different team set-up.

"But the car's not ready for winning just yet," he told reporters in the southern city of Jerez.

Alonso has shown his thirst for another crown with impressive testing last week in Valencia.

But he told broadcaster Telecinco that there were some things to iron out before he could be confident of hitting his stride in Melbourne in five weeks' time.

"As things stand today, although we're going fast, the car's not ready for winning just yet. It's not ready yet and the days are slipping by."

He joked that what he currently most likes about his car were "the colours."

With rain making life difficult for the teams in testing at Jerez it was German Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber who posted the best time of the day while Alonso put in a mere nine laps.

Heidfeld went round in a best time of 1:29.486 as he managed 36 laps, with Austrian Alex Wurz of Williams on his tail in 1:30.061 ahead of German BMW Sauber driver Timo Glock.

Best times Thursday

1. Nick Heidfeld (GER) BMW Sauber 1.29.486 (36 laps)
2. Alex Wurz (AUT) Williams 1:30.061 (69)
3. Timo Glock (GER) BMW Sauber 1:30.213 (27)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:30.628 (89)
5. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Honda 1:30.684 (64)