article_snippet: Fernando Alonso hailed McLaren’s progress as ‘fantastic’ despite qualifying a lowly 18th for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
article_snippet: It is the second consecutive grand prix where McLaren McLaren have been knocked out in the first phase of qualifying, but Fernando Alonso, back in the cockpit after McLaren missed the season opener in Melbourne through injury, moved to praise the team’s improvement.
article_snippet: Fernando Alonso, back at the wheel of a F1 car, hailed McLaren's progress since the opening race of the season .
article_snippet: I'd say the progress we've made since Australia has been fantastic,', said Fernando Alonso.
article_snippet: The snap comes after Fernando Alonso contradicted McLaren's version of events surrounding the mysterious testing crash which ruled Fernando Alonso out of the race in Melbourne.
article_snippet: This isn't an ideal position from which to start the race in Melbourne, but I'm fully aware that McLaren-Honda is a long-term project.
article_snippet: The Briton, sporting a moustache in Malaysia, believes there are a 'lot of positives' McLaren can drawn from .
article_snippet: There's more to come from the engine and the aero package
highlights_snippet: It's the second straight race where McLaren have failed to make it out of Q1 .
  
highlights_snippet: But Fernando Alonso hailed the British team's improvement since the season opener .