McLaren sets debut date for MP4-18

The car, which had originally been scheduled to test immediately after the Brazilian Grand Prix, will now run for the first time at Paul Ricard on May 21, the Wednesday after the Austrian Grand Prix.

McLaren's technical director Adrian Newey stated last weekend that the team would not be rushed into introducing the new car saying: "The problem is that if we bring it in too quickly and it is unreliable, then we shoot ourselves in the foot. So while there is pressure, as far as introducing it is concerned, we still have to establish reliability and pace before we do that."

Long-serving McLaren driver David Coulthard feels differently however, believing that the longer the team takes to introduce MP4-18, the more ground McLaren loses to its rivals. "We have to have the new car out as soon as possible," he said. "It's the only way I believe we can continue to challenge for the championship.

"Ferrari had their new car in Spain and you have to presume that the reason they had it is because the car is quicker. That is going to take them a step forward from where they were, while we are still eking something out of this car (MP4-17D)."