In an effort to match the performance of current F1 points leader Fernando Alonso and his team's Renault, the McLaren Mercedes team is testing a new engine in Silverstone this week.
According to Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren CEO: "The engine has got to be proved on the track and the dyno, but it is all about pushing." Whitmarsh went on to say that: "On the chassis side as well we have got a few bits of pieces of aero, which we are running at Silverstone, and hopefully those will bring a few tenths (of a second) between them. We are a few tenths behind Renault at the moment, but you also know that when your driver gets close behind a competitor they find a little bit in themselves typically."
It is believed McLaren will use the engine for the first time at the Nurburgring.