Dennis expecting close battle

But McLaren boss says Ferrari not back to best in Hungary

Last updated: 6th August 2008

Dennis: Close race anticipated

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Although not overly impressed by Ferrari during the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren Mercedes team boss Ron Dennis nevertheless insists there will be a close battle between the two teams for the World Championship.

Ferrari were on course for victory at the Hungaroring last Sunday until Felipe Massa's engine blew up three laps before he was due to take the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, after appearing off the pace during practice and qualifying, team-mate and World Champion Kimi Raikkonen eventually came good for third behind McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Toyota's Timo Glock.

Although currently enjoying an 11-point lead over their principal rivals in the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari have generally struggled of late.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won both the British and German grands prix to take the lead in the Drivers' Championship and, despite suffering a puncture in Hungary, his fifth-place finish conspired with other results to boost his Championship lead.

And, while Ferrari gave an improved showing in Budapest, Dennis reckoned it was in the main due to an inspired performance from Massa - who had passed leading qualifiers Kovalainen and Hamilton by the first corner of the opening lap.

"I don't think they were particularly (good). Massa had a good race but Kimi wasn't particularly strong," he said.

"Really the outcome of the first corner was that people could see Massa in the lead and who was in second place.

"But we switched into fuel strategy mode, to make sure that we stopped second to him in order that we could do a long second stint and overtake him at the final stop.

"The slightly flat spotted tyre and the puncture put paid to that strategy but I think that Lewis had the pace to win."

However, Dennis still believes Ferrari are capable of striking back at any time.

He added: "Confidence is a weakness, you've just got to take every race as it is.

"I don't think there's any doubt that we're in for a very competitive World Championship and it's going to be a close race between ourselves and Ferrari.

"I'm very pleased with how our own developments have helped to get us ahead of Ferrari though."