Button will be the first to test the MP4-27
The McLaren team has decided to entrust the debut of the MP4-27 to Jenson Button in Jerez. The 2009 world champion will drive for the first two days before handing over the wheel to Lewis Hamilton for the following two days.
McLaren unveiled yesterday the provisional schedule for its winter testing. The MP4-27 will indeed run, as planned, at the first tests in Jerez from February 7 to 10. Jenson Button will have the privilege of driving it first. He will be in the cockpit of his new car for the first two days, after which it will be Lewis Hamilton’s turn to get a feel for it.
The two Britons will have the same track time – they will each drive for 6 days out of the 12 test days scheduled before the first Grand Prix of the season, in Australia on March 18th.
McLaren’s program for the Jerez tests
February 7: Jenson Button
February 8: Jenson Button
February 09: Lewis Hamilton
February 10: Lewis Hamilton
The team’s objective for these tests is clear, to be immediately competitive to avoid having to catch up with its rivals during the season, as was the case in 2011. This is at least what McLaren’s reserve and test driver, Gary Paffett, hopes for.
« It is really very important to be immediately performant. Last year, we adopted an innovative design for the exhausts, and even though all our simulations and everything said it would work, it didn’t, and we had difficulties, » Gary Paffett told Sky Sports.
« But we need to start strong and be ahead because last year we had to catch up almost the entire year. We aim to be at least as fast as Red Bull from the start, maybe even slightly ahead, and then continue from there because I think to fight for the championship we must be able to fight for victories from the beginning of the season. »
Paffett also stated that the simulator is now an important tool given the testing restrictions imposed by the regulations.
(As a result of) having few on-track tests, we use the simulator in Woking extensively. We develop the cars, we develop the car setups, the setups specifically for each circuit, and we conduct the tests we need.
«It’s an incredibly sophisticated simulator, there are many other simulators, but the one we have at McLaren is very precise and we use it as an incredible development tool, » added Paffett.
