Apr.7 (GMM) Ron Dennis has rejected claims that BMW-Sauber's Bahrain form indicates that the German team has joined a now three-way battle for the 2008 title.



The Briton's McLaren-Mercedes outfit was outperformed by Hinwil based BMW on the island Kingdom, even though drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld insist that they do not now see themselves as contenders for the drivers' championship.



"No," McLaren principal Dennis told reporters when asked if he thinks BMW can sustain its trajectory throughout the season.



"When we get to Europe is where the research and development and speed of manufacture really starts to make a difference," he added.



Mercedes' Norbert Haug was also playing down the situation.



"BMW was not significantly faster than we were," he said before departing the Sakhir circuit, according to the SID news agency.



"Ferrari was also written off after a poor start in Australia, and now they have celebrated two victories in a row," Haug noted.