Sam Michael has predicted that the forthcoming Formula 1 season will be closely-fought.
The McLaren sporting director has said that all but two teams have cars which are within a second of a lap of each other.
He also believes that his team will be among the front-runners once the season gets underway.
"You've got nine teams within a second," BBC Sport quotes Michael as saying. "That is going to make it close. It will make it extremely tight through the qualifying sessions in Melbourne.
"We'll definitely be in the mix. In terms of confidence of whether we can be on the front row and win in Melbourne, I just don't know.
"I wouldn't say I was confident or unconfident. I'm neither way, just because I'm being honest. We just don't know."
The 2013 Formula 1 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix on March 17.
