When McLaren decided to split with Honda and use Renault engines for the 2018 Formula 1 season, it was meant to be the start of a new chapter for the British team.Fernando Alonso finishing fifth in Australia was a further boost that better times were ahead and ultimately, in the longer-term, they might be.After Saturday's qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, however, the road back to success must feel as long as it ever has after a miserable performance saw neither driver finish in the top 10.That was also the case in Melbourne two weeks ago, but what is different this time is the team which took on Honda engines for this year, Toro Rosso, had both cars ahead of Alonso and teammate Stoffel Vandoorne.While the Spaniard and the Belgian toiled in 13th and 14th respectively, Pierre Gasly was sixth with his partner Brendon Hartley 11th and unlucky to miss out on Q3.Given the constant criticism McLaren aimed at Honda during their time together, fans have shown little sympathy on Twitter in response.

Racing director Eric Boullier didn't address the fact of Toro Rosso being faster, however, he was very frank in his assessment of McLaren's performance.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a surprise, based on the pace we had in FP3,” Boullier told Sky Sports. “There is a need for a big investigation.

“On his last lap Fernando found some pace in Sector 2 and Sector 3, which would have helped earlier. We need to find out what’s going on.

“The balance is fine, obviously there’s a lack of grip, that’s my conclusion for the poor performance, but they don’t report anything wrong.”

The Frenchman is confident though that the problems are only really apparent on a single lap and that both drivers can think about moving back up the order in the race.

“Our pace in Australia was not a dream, it was real in the race, and we know it will be better here tomorrow than the one-lap pace," Boullier said.

“But we need to find out why. We need to ask some questions at the factory.

“Like all of us on the pit wall, to be honest, I’m a bit astonished and we need to understand what happened.”

As for junior Red Bull driver Gasly, he did talk up the achievement of beating McLaren on pure pace and was surprised just how quick he was.

“I didn’t say it on the radio, but yeah, for sure," he said of beating the Woking-based team.

“It was the best lap I have done in F1. I had one chance in Q3 with my new tyres. I knew that I had to do the lap, and if I would do like a really good lap, it could put us in a really good position.

“For sure I didn’t expect to be P6. But when I crossed the lap, I was like ‘OK, I have done and I have given everything I had’.

“It was just a great feeling when they told me I was P6. I think also on my side, I’m getting more and more comfortable on the car, session after session.”