MP4-19B set for France debut

Kimi Raikkonen was greatly enthused by the performance and stability of the heavily revised car, brought into action to replace the recalcitrant MP4-19 that has proved uncompetitive this season.

But despite the promise the new car showed in the three-day test in Britain, it is unlikely to be taken to the two fly-away races at Montreal and Indianapolis this month. Even there appears to be nothing to lose by replacing the unreliable MP4-19.

"We haven't made a decision in terms of race introduction, and it's certainly not our intention to have it for Canada and the USA," said Whitmarsh in an interview with autosport.com. "But France is realistic assuming that the benefits warrant the risks of pushing a car that early into the race programme.

"Inevitably the speed with which you bring things through depends upon a risk benefit analysis. If it goes like a train, two seconds a lap quicker, and doesn't have any issues, then I'm sure there will be some haste with which we bring it through! If it's a small incremental improvement and you have some issues, then you defer it.

Raikkonen's team-mate David Coulthard has already suggested that there is little to lose by making the swap, given the team is now realistically out of championship contention. "Again, the risk/benefit analysis, you have to bear in mind where you are," said Whitmarsh. "At the moment if you're nowhere in the championship, and you're not scoring enough points - or any points - then you can be slightly less risk averse..."

Raikkonen, it appears, cannot wait to race the new car. "It's been good - the handling is much better which is good not just for me but for the team," he said after Silverstone. "We did lots of laps but we still have problems with the shortage of parts which causes a delay in repairs, but it's been good."