Fernando Alonso has admitted that McLaren are behind in the development programme ahead of the 2015 season.
The Woking-based outfit have endured reliability problems during their winter preparations, with problems concerning its energy recovery system hampering them at testing in Barcelona.
Alonso, who joined McLaren after the end of the 2014 season, believes that the constructor is in the same position as Red Bull were prior to the last campaign.
He is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport as saying: "Honestly, I was hoping we would make this step, as there are now only six (test) days until Melbourne and we are behind. Our opponents have a year and 19 races more experience than us.
"We are about as prepared for Melbourne as Red Bull was last year. If we had one wish, we would move the first race to June! But under the circumstances, (the laptime) 1:25.9 is very good.
"At the grand prix last year, the fastest McLaren lap was 1:27.3, so I can say that today was a good day for us."
McLaren finished fifth in the 2014 constructors' championship.
