Only Alonso to use ’short nose’ in Austria

Fernando Alonso will get the first use of McLaren’s new ’short nose’ concept this weekend in Austria.

But it is not all good news for the Spaniard on Thursday, as the Honda-powered team prepares for the race at the Red Bull Ring.

Heading into the event in picturesque Spielberg, team boss Eric Boullier warned that McLaren "may have to consider strategically implementing updates with the aim of improving reliability and performance".

It turns out this means Alonso will almost certainly plummet down Sunday’s grid with a bevy of penalties, as his car is fitted with Honda upgrades so that he can maximise his chances at forthcoming circuits better suited to the package.

As Alonso is already on his fourth engine of the season, "We are expecting grid penalties" in Austria, a Honda spokesperson admitted.

The good news for the 33-year-old is that, after teammate Jenson Button got the first look at bodywork updates earlier in 2015, it is now Alonso’s car that will be fitted with the highly-anticipated ’short nose’ in Austria.

It is understood Button will get the update at Silverstone, as only a single set of parts is ready now.