Mercedes plan wide-angle V10

The German manufacturer has fallen behind BMW and Ferrari in the power stakes this year, leaving McLaren battling with Williams for second in the constructors championship.

But next year Mercedes' engine builder Ilmor plans to hit back with a wider-angled 90 degree V10 replacing this year's 72 degree unit. A wider and lower engine improves performance by lowering the centre of gravity of the car.

A Mercedes spokesman refused to comment on the new engine's wider angle. "We always do a new engine every year - there is nothing new in that," he said.

But McLaren's managing director Martin Whitmarsh said: "There are a number of areas of significant change, particularly in the engine configuration and there is a greater step change in the car for next year. But F1 is mighty competitive. If you analyse the difference in qualifying, we've been less that one percent off Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari. The reality is that F1 is all about a lot of small differences and we're not going out there for a quantum leap. We're not satisfied with any part of the package, but we shouldn't believe that we need to be revolutionary.

"We do have ambitious plans, which we have to do when we're in our position. We know that we can bounce back stronger. There's no magic recipe though. A few teams would like to be doing as 'badly' as we are, but that doesn't console us."

Mercedes were put on the back foot before the start of this season by the ban on the beryllium substance being used in engines. The make's once-dominant motor is also showing its age, has been less reliable and is said to be heavier than its closest rivals.

Renault has taken the wide-angle concept to its limits this year with a radical 111 degree engine. Having suffered poor reliability early in the season, the unit is now proving itself as powerful and effective in the back of the Benetton B201.