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Alonso: McLaren could bounce back in Monaco

LONDON, England - Undeterred by his last points prediction, Fernando Alonso has said he expects his misfiring McLaren Formula 1 team to gain points at the 2015 Monaco GP on May 24.

Alonso had told reporters before his home race in Barcelona that he was confident McLaren would finish in the points.

Instead, he retired with a brake problem - which the team blamed on a trapped visor tear-off - while  team mate Jenson Button finished 16th and lapped after wrestling with the 'scary' handling of his car.

MONACO PREDICTION

Alonso told Sky Sports ahead of the Monaco race: "I think we will get points in Monaco.

"Our simulations (in Barcelona) until the retirement put us in ninth place, so (that) was already the first opportunity to get the points. In Monaco it will be the second.

"From now on we will always be on the limit of the 10th place for the next two or three races. Hopefully after Austria we will be more secure, seventh, eighth place I hope. That's the target."

NO WINS SINCE 2012

Former champions McLaren have not won a race since 2012 and are enduring their worst start to a season as thenew partnership with Honda beds in, but Monaco has rewarded them more than any team over the years.

Alonso won in Monaco with Renault in 2006 and McLaren in 2007 while Button did so in 2009 with Brawn. Nico Rosberg has won the past two editions with Mercedes.

The tight and twisty circuit means McLaren's power disadvantage will be less apparent, with driveability and a driver's skills more important.

Button said in a team preview of the race: "I'm hopeful we can sort out the balance issues we had on my car in the last race, so Monaco should see an improvement."

"After a disappointing race in Barcelona, naturally it's easy to be frustrated when you step out of the car, especially when you feel you deserved more.

"I firmly believe that we're making solid progress, which is why having a difficult race is hard to take."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2015 Formula 1 series.

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