Team McLaren-Mercedes will be out to further exten💦d its lead in the constructors' and drivers' world championships in France next weekend and CEO Martin Whitmarsh isn't taking🌃 anything for granted.

Indeed despite the Woking-based outfits form in North America, where the MP4-22 was clearly the class of the field, Whitmarsh is all too aware that their rivals aren't standing still and that both Ferrari 𒉰and BMW Sauber remain a b🐠it threat.

"Last week we complet🍃ed one of our most intensive tests of the year so far," he explained. "Our test team worked tirelessly to prove a myriad o💖f components alongside a massive amount of effort being put in across the organisation.

"We haꦑve a fight on our hands to maintain, and ideally extend, the lead we have ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚin the Constructors' World Championship and the Drivers' table with both Fernando [Alonso] and Lewis [Hamilton].

"Ferrari and BMW Sauber are not standing still; our job ಞwithin the team is to keep providing Fernando an💞d Lewis with a car capable of winning. There is no complacency and the motivation is considerable."

Mercedes boss, Norbert Haug meanwhile added that while they have had a great 🌄start to the year, there is still a long way to go, with 10 more r🦂aces on the schedule.

"In 2007, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have so far achieved results, which are unique in the history of Formula 1. The team have always finished in the points with b⛦oth cars and have taken 12 out of 14 possible podium positions. On average, we scored more than 15 points per race with 18 points as the maximum in best case. A good interim balance; however, not more than that," he continued.

"We will all continue to work hard, to assure our reliability and to further impro🍌ve our speed; the upcoming ten races are even more important than the first seven."