11/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Having been forced to cancel a planned tyre test in Austin, McLaren now looks likely to take to the track at Vallelunga next month.
The planned test at the Circuit of the Americas, which would have taken place with a 2011 car fitted with 2014 tyres, ahead of next month's United States Grand Prix, followed similar tests carried out by Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, though these tests were held after races. However, following complaints from unspecified teams Pirelli was forced to cancel the COTA test on the advice of the FIA.
Speaking to reporters at Suzuka today, McLaren sporting director Sam Michael revealed that the test will now take place at the Italian track on November 11 and 12 using a 2011 chassis, though the test still has to be approved by the FIA.
"We will use our heritage group to run that car, it's an old car that we use for demos and that," he said.
Earlier in the week, McLaren driver Sergio Perez became the latest driver to hit out at Pirelli, the Mexican having suffered a delamination during last weekend's Korean Grand Prix, though the failure was attributed by the Italian manufacturer to a lock-up at the previous corner.
"What is totally unacceptable is that we see tyres exploding," he said. "This is the first time we hear that, from a lock-up, the tyre can explode. Then we hear that this is normal. I think this is not normal at all."