McLaren


2006 car: McLaren MP4-21

Engine: Mercedes.
Tyres: Michelin.

Team Chief: Ron Dennis.
Technical Director: n/a.

Test Drivers: Pedro de la Rosa (Spain), Gary Paffett (GB ).
First F1 GP: Monaco 1966.

Last Year: 2nd, 182pts.
History.

Races: 595. Points: 3139.5. Wins: 148.
Best championship position: Champions, 199pts (1988).


3 Kimi Raikkonen


Born: Oct 17, 1979, Finland. GP debut: Australia, 2001. Starts: 86. Wins 9. Poles: 8. Fastest laps: 16. Points: 281. Best ch'ship position: 2nd, 112pts (2005).


4 Juan Pablo Montoya


Born: Sept 20, 1975, Colombia. GP debut: Australia, 2001. Starts: 84. Wins: 7. Poles: 13. Fastest laps: 11. Points: 281. Best ch'ship position: 3rd, 50pts (2002), 82 pts (2003).


A troubled winter scarred by recurring reliability problems with the Mercedes V8 engine finally turned round in February.


The MP4-21 put in flawless race distances in Barcelona and Valencia and was quick to boot. McLaren's poor start in 2005 cost them both championships in the end.


If they manage 10 race wins this year as they did last, the constructors' championship is going to Woking. Expect Raikkonen, so close last year, to be on the money if the car is.


With Montoya, no less talented, it depends which way the wind is blowing when he steps over a crack while trying to avoid a ladder.