page_title: McLaren MCL32
section_title: Pre-season testing
hierarchical_section_title: McLaren MCL32 / Competition history / Pre-season testing
caption_attribution_description: English: Formula One 2017 Catalonia test (27 February-2 March): Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
context_page_description: The McLaren MCL32 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by McLaren to compete in the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship. The car was driven by two-time World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso, who stayed with the team for a third season; and Stoffel Vandoorne, who joined the team after Jenson Button retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2016 season. Button later returned to replace Alonso for one race and as such, the MCL32 was the last Formula One car raced by the 2009 World Champion.
  The MCL32 made its competitive début at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix and is the first car built by McLaren since the McLaren M30—which contested part of the 1980 season—that does not contain the "MP4" prefix as part of its chassis name. The change was introduced following CEO Ron Dennis's departure from the team's parent company, the McLaren Technology Group, in November 2016. This was the last McLaren car to be fitted with a Honda engine as it was replaced by Renault engines from the 2018 season onwards.
  After an improvement in the previous year, 2017 was a rough season for McLaren.
context_section_description: As in 2015, McLaren endured a difficult pre-season during testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The new RA617H, which featured a completely overhauled concept compared to the previous two seasons, was found to be unreliable, interrupting the team's preparations and preventing them from achieving consistent running. Fernando Alonso was particularly critical of the engine, complaining about lack of reliability and power. The team managed to complete only 425 laps in the eight days of testing compared to Mercedes, who completed over one thousand laps in the same period, and had used more engines during pre-season testing than they would be permitted to use during the regular season. The team's initial struggles then prompted reports that McLaren had sought out an alternative engine supplier.
caption: Fernando Alonso testing the MCL32 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
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