[HHugo]

Last week the MP4/18 finished its second testing session at the Barcelona circuit after having its debut run at Paul Ricard two weeks earlier. These first two testing sessions gave the McLaren and Mercedes engineers enough time to realise one thing : it is not enough reliable.

McLaren and Mercedes cannot take any chances about the reliability of its cars during the races so this is why the MP4/18 will probably make its Grand Prix debut only at Silverstone and not at the European Grand Prix like it was previously believed.

"This car has a great potential." said Norbert Haug, vice-president of Mercedes Motorsport. "But we have to continue its development until we reach a very high level of reliability and this will take more time. It is very probable that it will not be taking part in a race before the British Grand Prix."

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