McLaren to Debut New Car Next Month

Championship leaders McLaren will introduce their new MP4-18 car next month, once it's faster and as reliable as the old MP4-17D.

"The strong showing of the MP4-17D is also allowing us the flexibility to fully optimise the performance of the MP4-18 before it is introduced," said McLaren's managing director Martin Whitmarsh in the team's San Marino Grand Prix preview.

"As previously indicated, we will only race the MP4-18 when it's faster and at least as reliable as the MP4-17D. As a result, at this time we are not in the position to provide an exact date, it will however be within the next month."

McLaren have won two of the first three races of the 2003 season with the updated MP4-17D and are currently leading the Constructors' Championship by 16 points over Renault and 23 over World Champions Ferrari, who are also using last year's car.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen leads in the drivers' standings after scoring his maiden victory in Malaysia last month.