by Essential Sports

Timo Glock's second place finish in Hungary last week has strengthened the team's position, but they are still only four points ahead of fifth placed Renault.

Howett said: "We had a strong beginning to 2005 because we sacrificed 2004 with the regulation change, although towards the end we lifted.

"Last year, we had actually had a better season than the results showed and maybe we were given credit for, but I think now we have got a good team of people working together and it is coming.

"Next year is a huge opportunity and a huge risk. If you get it right you will be a star and if you get it wrong you will be struggling all season. So, we are mindful of that."

He added: "To be honest, I think it will be another couple of weeks before it is 100 percent on the 2009 car. But, even now we have been putting quite a lot of effort onto the 2009 car.

"We have been working on it for I suppose nine months to one year, but everybody has. We think we are good, but someone else may be better. We need to be paranoid."