Silverstone’s new Arena layout is set to be completed on schedule by the end of this month, British Grand Prix organisers said on Tuesday.

The £5 million revamp will add 760m to the historic Northamptonshire track through an infield detour from Abbey towards Becketts and back to the Brooklands complex via the National circuit straight.

The changes – originally conceived for MotoGP – are designed to improve safety, spectator viewing and overtaking opportunities.

“Work on the circuit and venue is on schedule,” said Silverstone’s managing director Richard Phillips.

“The team has been working around the clock, through some pretty terrible weather conditions, to make sure the circuit is ready on time.

“The track works at Brooklands and Woodcote are now complete, including the new run-off area for the fast entry into Pits Straight, while the major new development – the new section of circuit from Abbey, up to the Arena Complex and round to the National Straight – is also coming along nicely.

“There is still a considerable amount of work going on at Silverstone, including the new elevated banks and spectator viewing areas, which will continue beyond March.

“Conference and hospitality buildings are also being built on the new Stowe Complex.”

Formula 1 will use the Arena layout from this year’s British Grand Prix on 11 July, but the new configuration will be christened by the FIA GT championship at the start of May.

Michael Schumacher is hopeful that Mercedes GP’s decision not to deploy its full 2010 arsenal until the season-opening race in Bahrain will pay dividends.

Unlike other top teams such as McLaren, which has only made minor changes to its car since the Barcelona test, Mercedes is bringing a big upgrade to Sakhir, where it will run with its definitive 2010 diffuser for the first time.

Although Mercedes has not made waves during winter testing, and team principal Ross Brawn recently admitted the squad is “not quite where we want to be”, Schumacher is optimistic that the Bahrain package will haul the W01 closer to the pace-setting trio of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.

“I strongly believe we can fight at the top,” he said in an interview published on his website.

“The car has not been completely at the level of other teams’ cars at the end of the tests, true, but the amount of fuel was massively influencing this impression.

“It seems we were driving more fuel than others most of the time and therefore we look quite good I would say.

“But than it is hard to judge who played all his cards yet.

“Our car also has not been in its final configuration – something we had deliberately wanted.

“We wanted to use the two weeks development time between the last test and the race in Bahrain.”

Despite this confidence in the car’s potential, Schumacher does not expect to contend for victories immediately.

“I said it quite clear from the beginning: we do not have to – and probably will not – be in the position to win right from the start,” he said.

“It is important to be close and then use the long season to be at the top at the end.

“It is not the start which is important; it is the finish.”

The 41-year-old is confident he can work his way into the title battle as the season goes on – “absolutely, yes” – and is relishing the return to competition after three years in retirement.

“This is what I am here for, and I am confident we can play a role in this fight,” he said.

“If we win it at the end will be a different question, as always in sports.

“But our entire team is extremely motivated, as am I.

“The guys have won both titles last year, and now, with Mercedes on board [as the team owner], they want to repeat this success.

“We all want to win.

“The season will be long and hard, no doubt about that, but I love this fight – it is because of this fight that I came back to Formula 1.”