Davidson: Honda can win in Bahrain

That is the view of test driver Anthony Davidson, who is adamant that the team are as well prepared as they can be ahead of the season opener in Sakhir.

Although the expected fight at the front between Honda, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari appears too close to call at the moment, Davidson thinks his team are definitely in the hunt to grab a win.

"We hit the ground running in testing this year and we've continued that momentum," he told autosport.com. "Honda could have rested on their laurels by how good they were at the beginning of the year, but they have continued to push all the way and it is nice to have been a part of it.

"We've been one of the few teams to test in Bahrain and I would like to think that it was worthwhile and we can go there challenging for the win. It is going to be close, for sure, and you can never underestimate the competition.

"It is never easy but if we can get up there near the front we have got a chance. I sincerely believe that."

Davidson believes that the ace up Honda's sleeve is likely to be the fact that they can run a third car in Friday practice, as a result of their disappointing form in 2005.

"The whole grid is going to be more competitive this season than we have ever seen before. It is going to be close and I don't think I can see there being one clear winner.

"But we have definitely got one of the fastest Friday cars and that is going to be crucial to help out with set-up and tyre selection. It is really going to be an important year to have a third car out there and hopefully we can continue the rate of development we've seen this winter and carry it well into the year."

Davidson has also taken some great personal satisfaction from his lap record performance last week, which was almost half a second faster than the previous best set by Kimi Raikkonen in 2005.

"It is really nice to do a time, especially as Valencia has never been one of our strongest circuits. It's a great achievement."