By Karl King
March 6 2006

Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice-President Norbert Haug has insisted that Mercedes' new V8 engine is up to the challenge of the strenuous two-GP engine rule. We reported a while back over concerns that Mercedes were 'not where they wanted to be' in the development of the V8.

Now, however, Haug says it is a different story.

"The start with the new MP4-21 at Barcelona on 23rd January was not trouble free and in the beginning we were not where we wanted. However, in the following five and a half weeks or about 40 days until the final test at Valencia on 1 March, our team showed what it’s capable of, be it chassis or engine wise.

"During 28 test days, Kimi, Juan Pablo and Pedro covered a total of 8692 kilometres which is on average one Grand Prix distance per day and therefore equates to a total of 28 Grand Prix distances in preparation for the first races.

"The lap time improved continuously throughout the tests and the long runs were OK compared to the fastest. Several times, our new V8 engine stood the strain of two race weekends and up to 50 percent more, on the circuits of Barcelona and Valencia as well as on the dynos at Brixworth and Stuttgart," the German pointed out.

He finished, "Prior to the start of the season this coming weekend, I want to thank everybody in the team for their enormous efforts."

With only 6 days left until the race kicks off at Bahrain, I for one, certainly hope the Merc is reliable. With the likes of Honda and Renault around, is it essential the team are competitive from the outset.