Reigning World Champion, Mika Hakkinen, will have a newer version of the McLaren MP4-14 ready for him this weekend in France. "The car has a few more horsepower and it revs a bit higher", said Mercedes motorsport boss, Norbert Haug. The new version also has a longer wheelbase of about five cms.

Furthermore, due to France's laws against tobacco advertising, the car will carry the name "Mika" on the sidepods and nose cone, instead of "West", McLaren's main sponsor.