Paffett to stay on as McLaren tester
Gary Paffett has confirmed that he will continue in his role as a test driver for McLaren, despite Mercedes forming its own grand prix team
The 28-year-old Briton is a factory driver for Mercedes in the DTM and has been a McLaren test driver since 2006.
Speaking at AUTOSPORT International on Saturday, Paffett said: "I will continue the testing work with McLaren to try to develop the car and help the all-British team to win championships.
"I haven't been involved with the Mercedes team. I've got a job in DTM with Mercedes and a job in Formula 1 with McLaren. There is still a relationship between the two through the engines and, although there is a rivalry there now, I'm very much with McLaren in F1 and Mercedes in DTM."
Paffett expects Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to spur each other on and is confident that they will maintain a good working relationship.
"Knowing how determined and hard-working Lewis is, and the job Jenson has done, it's going to be fantastic for everybody to watch," he added.
"It's a brave move for Jenson to come to McLaren, Lewis has been here a few years now and knows the team very well. But the team has a great spirit about it and they will both get absolutely equal treatment and push each other so hard that it can only make things better.
"They aren't two people that are going to fall out, they'll just push each other further and further on."
Share Or Save This Story
Friday favourite: The team game maestro who showed Wickens a new side to racing
Friday favourite: The seaside circuit that a double DTM champion made his own
Gary Paffett: 100 not out
How every F1 2026 team has performed so far
Lambiase’s move to McLaren makes sense - but Red Bull faces another big hole to fill
McLaren confirms signing of Verstappen's F1 race engineer Lambiase
How the return of one of UK racing’s biggest names looks set to shake up the BTCC
Pool position: bringing Glastonbury glam to Silverstone
Red Bull shakes up its F1 technical team
The political shift that will determine F1's next engine formula
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments