Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn admits he is feeling a lot more confident ahead of the 2012 campaign as the team have made major strides during the off-season.
The Brackley-based squad failed to secure a podium finish last year and finished a distant fourth behind Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship.
The new season though brings new hope and Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg have been pretty positive about their 2012 challenger, the W03.
Brawn is also upbeat about his team's chances as he feels they have taken a good step forward.
"None of us are ever completely happy with what we do and we always constantly think of how to improve," he told the official Formula One website.
"But I can say that this car is a good step forward. We can see that from the analysis and simulation work - and the way we've approached it.
"I think we've genuinely made a good step forward. Of course you never know what the opposition is going to do, but I also feel more confident as we now have a much stronger organisation at hand than in the past.
"There is never the ultimate car because before you finish it you have already focused on the next one. But, as I just said, the W03 is a pretty good step forward."
