McLaren have confirmed that they will be joining Mercedes and Red Bull in fielding a controversial suspension system for the 2017 season.

There is a looming protest ahead of the new season as Ferrari are attempting to suspend the active suspension-mimicking concept. McLaren reported last week that they were to remain neutral in the debate but have since decided to run the system.

"We have a system that we believe is legal," technical chief Matt Morris confirmed. "If someone wants to protest, the rules have to be changed. The most useful thing would be to discuss things and then clarify it for 2018," he added.

McLaren will this year field Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne in their third year of partnership with Honda since the introduction of the V6 Hybrid era. Vandoorne thinks that he is under much less pressure than Fernando Alonso as the Belgian has time on his side.

"You are right that I still have time so I can afford to build up for the future, and that is what I want to do with this team," he said. "But that does not change that the sooner I can win, the better."

Many are comparing the 24 year old to Max Verstappen who enters his third year of Formula 1, but Vandoorne said that he is not focused on the other drivers, only building a successful future for McLaren.

"Well, that's the least of my worries," said Vandoorne. "Building up with this team for the future is more important than comparing with other drivers.

"With the numbers in the simulator and on the engine bench, and when I see some other cars, I have the impression that ours is maybe more advanced, more developed.

"With the change of regulations, we have in any case a great opportunity to close the gap of the last two years," he added.

Fergal Walsh