Hakkinen: fix it for Imola or forget about titles

But with no major testing of the MP4-16 scheduled prior to the San Marino GP, the Finn could still find himself playing catch-up to Ferrari until at least round five of the Formula 1 World Championship, the Spanish GP on April 29.

While Hakkinen's team mate David Coulthard has taken a second and a third from the opening races, Hakkinen has just one point to his name, courtesy of sixth in Sepang, and is already 19 points behind Schumacher.

"Everybody is talking about us getting a better car once the season starts in Europe and I think we should," said Hakkinen in Autosport magazine. "But if we don't get it right there, then we're not going to get it right at all.

"It's a shame that we are losing precious points at the moment and that is because of the car problem," he added.

Hakkinen's views have been backed up by team mate Coulthard, who likened Ferrari's present position of dominance to that of the Woking-based team in 1998. And with another 'flyaway' GP in Brazil in a week's time, McLaren looks set to endure another race weekend playing catch-up to Ferrari.

Arch-rival Ferrari has dominated the opening two races of the season, with reigning world champion Michael Schumacher winning in Australia and Malaysia. In contrast, McLaren-Mercedes has struggled with handling problems for its MP4-16 - even resorting to running makeshift nose fins in Malaysia in an attempt to find a cure for chronic understeer.

Speaking in Malaysia, team boss Ron Dennis said: "We've demonstrated over the last three years our capability of producing the best car, and we've now got a good car. Occasionally you get it wrong. It [the MP4-16] has a difficult to accommodate handling characteristic, but it's a short-lived problem and we understand what has to be done."

The team is testing in Barcelona this week, but using only 2000-spec cars. Third driver Alex Wurz ran on Tuesday and Wednesday, honing the team's traction control system, while Hakkinen and Coulthard began driving duties today (Thursday) - but still only with 2000-spec kit.

"We are not bringing a new car here," Wurz told Autosport.com, "or to the test after the Brazilian Grand Prix."