Alonso plays down ’turn off TV’ advice

Fernando Alonso has clarified his comments, after suggesting "bored" McLaren fans should "turn off the TV until next year".

In the midst of McLaren-Honda’s abysmal 2015, the Spaniard at Silverstone warned fans who are frustrated that more of the same pain will be felt for the rest of the season.

"So whoever is bored, turn off the TV until next year, or at least until Japan or later because it is going to get worse than this," said Alonso.

But after scoring his first point of 2015 in the British grand prix, the former world champion insisted he was in fact not urging his supporters to go away, but simply playing down expectations as the team gets up to speed.

"The message was misunderstood," Alonso is quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE.

"I did not mean to turn off the TV, I just meant that there will be other races like this but also worse ones, because the car will not change overnight."

And he insisted that "nobody" at the team is getting "tired" or preparing to "throw in the towel".

Alonso said the three-week gap between Silverstone and Hungary - created due to the German grand prix axe - is "important" for McLaren, as it gives the team extra time to improve.

"Hungary has not so many straights so that will help us a little bit," he acknowledged. "But we cannot expect that we will be with the leaders.

"It will be the same as here (Silverstone) — struggling to get past Q1 and scratching for a few points," added Alonso.