Jan.16 (GMM) McLaren's equity and engine partner Mercedes-Benz will fully support Lewis Hamilton's efforts to win the first title for the collaboration since 1999.

"We are determined to lead the field this season," Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche is quoted as saying by the Bahrain newspaper Gulf Weekly.

"Lewis has already publicly promised to bring home the bacon in 2008 and we will do whatever we can to help him fulfil this promise," the German added.

Meanwhile, after the launch of the new Woking built MP4-23 was held recently in Stuttgart, Gulf Weekly claims that the 2009 McLaren could be publicly displayed for the first time next year in Bahrain.

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding, a company owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, owns 30 per cent of McLaren; the largest shareholding after Mercedes' 40 per cent.

The newspaper said the scene for the 2009 team launch could be the Bahrain grand prix circuit.