Fernando Alonso refused to show frustration over yet another Honda engine failure during practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix on the basis that the more problems the team has now the less it will suffer in 2016.
Alonso's second practice session came to an early end when his engine failed with a couple of puffs of smoke and a lick of flame from the exhaust. He was using Honda's latest spec of engine, but has another unit he can use penalty-free on Saturday and Sunday.
"[It was] an engine problem," he said. "I think we need to go deep to understand more. We will try to change the engine, we will put the Mexico one in which is low mileage so it should be OK for tomorrow. We will keep learning about the troubles we have this year.
Asked if it was disappointing to experience another failure in a year of problems, Alonso said: "Not anymore. My head is into next year and I hope to have all the problems here or Abu Dhabi, rather than next year. It's a learning process and it is painful, but it is the only way to succeed, to learn from our mistakes and problems."
The image of Alonso waiting for the recovery truck neatly summed up Alonso's return to McLaren this year, but he insists he would be more disappointed if he was finishing just off the top step of the podium each weekend with no hope of winning.
"I have read this image is quite famous already, but I don't know what people expect when you retire and you are waiting for the car to take you back to the garage! It's true we are having a frustrating season but we are learning a lot and I think it is more frustrating when you are second or third in the podium, you see some of the faces of the champions this year and the troubles they have as team-mates etc. but it is a strange moment, strange pictures."