F1: Only Button had new diffuser in China ?

Fernando Alonso demonstrated his “good mood” by happily racing a step behind teammate Jenson Button in China.

That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that the specification of the Spaniard’s McLaren-Honda in Shanghai was not quite up to speed with the sister car.

The report said only one version of a new diffuser was brought by McLaren to China, and Alonso “generously” let teammate Button have it aboard his silver car.

Some believe the component is worth a couple of tenths per lap, and Alonso will have use of it in Bahrain this weekend.

Not only that, there are reports Honda is preparing to turn up the power of its struggling turbo V6 in Bahrain, with Auto Motor und Sport saying it has been running only at a maximum of 90 per cent until now due to reliability concerns.

Finally, Alonso declined to be drawn into a row with his former teammate Kimi Raikkonen, after the Ferrari driver became impatient during the Chinese race.

“Come on, get that McLaren out of the way!” the Finn raged over the radio in Shanghai.

Alonso was quoted afterwards by the Spanish daily Marca: “I don’t say anything, because we are very slow compared to them.”

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