De la Rosa: Ferrari favourites for 2007

That is the view of McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa, who reckons the switch to Bridgestone rubber next year will help the Italian squad, thanks to their long relationship with the Japanese tyre supplier.

All teams will use Bridgestone tyres in 2007 following Michelin's exit from the sport at the end of this season.

"Ferrari are favourites, because they already have a lot of experience with Bridgestone," de la Rosa told his country's EFE news agency.

"It's hard to know how our car will adapt to the tyres and that's where Ferrari have a small advantage. But it will be a very open championship.

"Honda will be there and so will be BMW, who have improved a lot in 2006. It's a team who ended the season strongly and it's looking good for next year.

"Then there's Toyota, who is always a box full of surprises, but next year's championship will be fought between McLaren, Ferrari and Renault."

De la Rosa, who is still unsure about his future as McLaren decide who will partner Fernando Alonso next year, reckons the British squad will enjoy a stronger season in 2007.

"McLaren's car will be good. We don't usually have two bad years. We come from a year without a win and it's unlikely that will happen again with the people that we have here," said the Spaniard, whose team just completed their first win-less season in a decade.

"The data that we have about the new car is better, but all this is just theory and the important thing is what happens on track," he added. "We know very little about the car. As a driver I'm waiting to see it on track, but the prospects are looking good.

"They have worked hard to fix the problems with last year's car."