OCTOBER 4, 2002

McLaren plans to lull Ferrari into a false sense of security

The McLaren team has admitted that it intends to start next season with an updated version of the current car before bringing in the new MP4/18 at the start of the European season. The new car will probably be finished in time for the start of the year but it will not be properly tested and McLaren says it would prefer to use an updated version of the current car while the new car - probably a completely new concept as it will be the first to be built by Mike Coughlan, in his new role as chief designer - is being completed.