It doesn’t matter how busy you are over the winter, finishing off the new car – without the scream of race engines in the distance it can feel like you’re standing still.
Like all the other Formula 1 teams, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been working flat out since returning from Abu Dhabi back in November. The team has a wealth of new challenges to think about for 2011: new technical regulations, a new tyre supplier and even a new circuit on the calendar.
On track, the silence is about to be broken.
It’s time to validate all the research and planning as McLaren is getting ready to go racing. The four test sessions ahead are vital to the preparations for the 2011 F1 season. The first task is to learn as much as it can about the new Pirelli tyre family using a car McLaren already know plenty about: last year’s MP4-25.
Armed with that knowledge, after the launch of the MP4-26 on February 4, McLaren will start testing the new car at Jerez.
McLaren’s 2011 test programme (with relevant drivers) in full:
VALENCIA (tyre test using MP4-25 chassis)
Feb 1 Gary Paffett
Feb 2 Lewis Hamilton
Feb 3 Jenson Button
JEREZ (first scheduled run for MP4-26)
Feb 10 Lewis Hamilton
Feb 11 Jenson Button
Feb 12 Lewis Hamilton
Feb 13 Jenson Button
BARCELONA
Feb 18-19 Jenson Button
Feb 20-21 Lewis Hamilton
BAHRAIN
Mar 3 Jenson Button
Mar 4 Lewis Hamilton
Mar 5 Jenson Button
Mar 6 Lewis Hamilton
Source: Nextgen
