Fernando Alonso admits that McLaren-Honda is now very much on the back foot just two weeks from the start of the 2017 Formula 1 season.

Following another difficult day of testing which demonstrated once again the limitations of Honda’s power unit, the Spanish driver derided the Japanese manufacturer, insisting that big decisions at the top are now necessary to resolve the situation.

“It [progress] will depend a lot from the big decisions that have to be made at the top,” he said.

“I believe the main goal is to get to Australia in the best possible conditions, something that we haven’t be able to achieve in the first six days of testing.

“We have two days left, one per driver, to try fundamental things in the car and start to unlock the power we have inside the engine, to arrive in Australia with a medium/high level of reliability that will allow us to finish the race with as few problems as possible and with as much engine power available as we can get out of it.

“The second priority is to be competitive, to eventually be in the battle for the top five, get to the podium and win races – everything we dreamed off for this year.

“For that, hopefully we get the big decisions that will change this situation. I expect an incredible and immediate reaction from the team.”

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