Mercedes targeting top three spot

Newly-owned Mercedes GP will be aiming for a top three championship position as it heads into its season of title defence in 2010. Having completed a magical season to win both titles after narrowly surviving the pull-out of Honda a year ago, Sporting Director Nick Fry remains realistic as the new decade approaches.

With Brawn's 2009 season having consisted of an ultra-strong start followed by a desperate struggle to retain its lead as competitors' cars improved, Fry is refraining from over-optimistic targets.

"I think for 2010 we have to aim for a top three place in the Constructors' Championship and of course we need to win races," the Englishman explained. "It's very difficult to go beyond that because we don't know at this stage what our competition will do.

"I think Ferrari will be very strong, I think McLaren-Mercedes will also be very strong, maybe Red Bull with Sebastian (Vettel) again, so until we can see where they have developed their cars we won't know exactly where we are but if we're not in the top three I think we're all going to be extremely disappointed."