By Sam Cooper
March 5 2007

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One Team’s test driver Pedro De La Rosa recons that McLaren are strong enough, both in performance and reliability to not to fear Ferrari or any other team. His thoughts come after the gruelling Bahrain tests.

The Spaniard feels extremely confident over McLarens pace.

It has probably been the best pre-season test for our team since I joined McLaren Mercedes," de la Rosa said. "Reliability has been very good throughout the winter period, with new parts being flown from the MTC (McLaren Technology Centre) to the circuit constantly, which has enabled us to progress rapidly."

"It is true that we did have some reliability issues during this last week of testing in Bahrain, but they were all due to parts being well over mileage," the Spaniard continued.

"We have done our winter homework and we are all looking forward to Australia now, where we can fight to win against anyone."

"I am working very well with Fernando and Lewis. In fact, it does feel to me as if they had been in our team for a longer time already."

De la Rosa travels to Australia prior the Australian Grand Prix and will be running at Phillip Island circuit for the team sponsors.

So, will we see more of the updates from the MTC which will help us crush the opposition? But at what cost does this bring? It must cost millions to make new parts and fly them out. Is this the cost of success?