McLaren might have scored its third podium of the season in Spain, but the Woking outfit is still way down on pace compared to Ferrari and Williams.

The team has admitted it has a huge mountain to climb if it wants to be racing on equal terms with its rivals but got solid work done in Valencia testing with four drivers last week. And its record at the Austrian Grand Prix is excellent, with a podium finish in every race held there since 1997 including two one-two finishes in 1998 and 2000 and last year’s victory by David Coulthard.

Still, a healthy history does not automatically guarantee a good showing. The team is still unable to extract maximum potential from the MP4/17 contender, and there are some areas of the package such as the underpowered Ilmor-built Mercedes-Benz engine, that are proving the weak link in the overall picture.

‘The team has worked hard since the Spanish Grand Prix to continue the process of moving forward and improving our performance levels,’ said Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren International MD. ‘We conducted a productive test session last week at Valencia, covering over 1800 kilometres and we are now looking forward to the challenges of the Austrian Grand Prix.’

Coulthard, whose 2002 title hopes are all but dashed, unsurprisingly enjoys the A-1 Ring given his record there. He is hoping to score more points in his 130th race.

‘It was encouraging to take my second podium finish of the 2002 season at the Spanish Grand Prix, and I am now looking forward to building on the result in Austria, which is also my 130th Grand Prix start,’ said the Scottish pilot.

‘I enjoy driving at the A1-Ring and have a good record there, having won at the track last year and finished second in the previous four races. The A1-Ring is reminiscent of a kart track and is very short in length. It also has the quickest lap time of the current Formula One circuits, the lap record stands at 1m10.843, which I set in 2001.’

Young team-mate Kimi Raikkonen retired from the Spanish Grand Prix when the rear wing of his McLaren collapsed at high speed. The 22-year-old drove well in Austria last year and wants to repeat that form.

‘I had a solid race in Austria last year, securing fourth, which was my joint highest position of 2001, and I am hoping to improve on that result in this year’s race.’

McLaren is currently 37 points behind constructors’ title leader Ferrari.