As Stoffel Vandoorne headed down the pitlane, the rear of his car sporting his compulsory driver id, we took to Twitter to comment that "somehow the word VAN on the side of the MCL32 seemed appropriate".

Shortly after, we were proven correct, when Fernando Alonso, on his first out-lap of the day, appeared to suffer an engine seizure which sent his car into a vicious spin. As the Spaniard climbed from his car, which was engulfed in smoke, marshals rushed to his aid.

Looking at the rear of the car, the Spaniard then watched as it was lifted to safety, fluid pouring from the rear suggesting a massive engine failure.

"It's a question for Honda, not for me," he told reporters moments later. "The engine blew up after one corner.

"It's the way it is," he added "we miss the first session. I feel sorry for the fans. It is tough, but I think it is more tough for McLaren. They bring updates, trying to find milliseconds here or there, and we cannot even run."

Shortly after, amidst claims he had left circuit, he tweeted "keeping the body active" alongside a picture of himself on a local tennis court, prompting fears that he might give FP2 a miss.

Honda subsequently revealed that the power unit, which suffered an oil leak, and which was raced in Australia and China, will be changed without penalty, though the move sees him edge ever closer towards the limit. It is understood the energy store, control electronics and ICE will not need to be changed.

Only yesterday, the Spaniard admitted that he is giving McLaren until September/October to raise its game and produce a car capable of winning or else he will seek pastures new for 2018.

Surely nobody would blame the two-time champ if hasn't already made his mind up.

Check out our Friday gallery from Barcelona, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by sumpnz, 12/05/2017 20:57 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 12/05/2017 21:18)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

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2. Posted by Paul C, 12/05/2017 16:43

"Alonso has to be comparing his Honda power units. Why does the Indy Car's Honda unit work well? Why is the F1 PU a stinker?
And finally the big questions that must be recycling in his head: What do I have to prove in F1? I'm a two time WDC. WHY NOT try to win Indy & Le Mans before I finish my career? "

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3. Posted by Max Noble, 12/05/2017 12:12 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 12/05/2017 21:18)

"This pains us all, but sing it with me... "The tears in Spain f-low from Al-onso on the Pl-ane!"
Tragic.

Who is buying the road cars? Oh wait... they've got BMW and Mercedes engines..."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

More misery for Alonso

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