McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh is convinced his team is heading in the right direction despite their troubled pre-season.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have this week both voiced their concerns that the new car is lacking pace and reliability.
Hamilton also made clear that at the moment the MP4-26 is not a car capable of winning the world championship.
However, McLaren are renowned for their competitiveness and refusal to give in, evident in 2009 when they started the season abysmally, only for Hamilton to win two races come the conclusion.
As far as Whitmarsh is concerned, he is naturally optimistic any wrongs now will be righted, in particular the reliability niggles.
'For this year it's simply too early to say anything definitive about the MP4-26, or indeed about any other 2011 Formula One car,' said Whitmarsh. 'Suffice to say we've had a few reliability issues during testing so far, but we're confident things are going in the right direction now.'
The decision to launch later than their rivals, instead using the first test to evaluate the new Pirelli tyres for this season, has been criticised by many.
Whitmarsh is adamant the data gathered from that test in Valencia was invaluable, and that the team 'still stand by our decision to defer its (the car's) introduction by one test.'
Determined to remain upbeat and offer a positive outlook, Whitmarsh told formula1.com, 'Let's just wait and see how the season unfolds. I'm sure there'll be plenty of surprises in store, and to be frank it'll be good for the sport if there are.'
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have this week both voiced their concerns that the new car is lacking pace and reliability.
Hamilton also made clear that at the moment the MP4-26 is not a car capable of winning the world championship.
Slow start: McLaren have struggled with pace and reliability in pre-season testing
As far as Whitmarsh is concerned, he is naturally optimistic any wrongs now will be righted, in particular the reliability niggles.
'For this year it's simply too early to say anything definitive about the MP4-26, or indeed about any other 2011 Formula One car,' said Whitmarsh. 'Suffice to say we've had a few reliability issues during testing so far, but we're confident things are going in the right direction now.'
The decision to launch later than their rivals, instead using the first test to evaluate the new Pirelli tyres for this season, has been criticised by many.
Determined to remain upbeat and offer a positive outlook, Whitmarsh told formula1.com, 'Let's just wait and see how the season unfolds. I'm sure there'll be plenty of surprises in store, and to be frank it'll be good for the sport if there are.'
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