‘The car is good but it`s not perfect’
McLaren will kick off the 2006 season with an under-powered car, according to Juan Pablo Montoya. The team`s Colombian driver said in Bahrain that Mercedes-Benz had solved a reliability problem with the new V8 unit.
But Montoya added: “We should be okay in the race. We have done a race distance (in testing). But (the problem) means we are a bit behind. The power is not exactly what we want. I think it`s obvious that we`re not right in front.”

Indeed, independent sources claim that the Mercedes is up to thirty five horse power off the leading engine in Bahrain - which, incidentally, is the Cosworth.

“The car is good but it`s not perfect,” Montoya continued. “But it should be good and we will be up there.
”

Asked if the MP4-21 is good enough to win races, however, Juan Pablo was non-committal. “We will soon find out,” he smiled. “I`m not sure. I don`t think so.”

“Each year it seems like we are not right where we want to be right from the very start.”

Tags: grand-prix,