- McLaren
New car will be tough to understand - McLaren
McLaren test driver Gary Paffett expects the first test of the season to be a difficult period of learning for all the teams.
The first test gets underway in Jerez in just over two weeks, with McLaren confirming it will be present with its new car following an online launch a few days earlier. Paffett says development of the MP4-29 is progressing well but he thinks the majority of the first test will be spent trying to understand the new engines and how they work.
"Yes, I've seen the car in the workshop, they are working hard and the car will be in Jerez," Paffett told Sky Sports. "It is going to be launched at Woking in a digital launch on the 24th (January) and then out on track on the 28th in Jerez.
"I won't be there; I am going to back at the factory on the simulator, looking on at the testing. There probably won't be too much mileage on the first day, but we are going to be back in the simulator and ready for any feedback we can get from the drivers at track as to how we can help to develop the car over the first test.
"But yeah, it is going to plan and when we get to Jerez we will know a lot more about it, but I think just understanding the powertrain and how it all works is going to be the first target which isn't going to be too easy I don't think."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
