De la Rosa convinced he'll race in Brazil

McLaren have yet to make a final decision on who will partner Kimi Raikkonen at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but de la Rosa has said he is confident it will be him as this week's short test at Jerez draws to a close.

Speaking to autosport.com on Thursday afternoon, he said: "I am sure I will be in Brazil."

Team boss Ron Dennis said in Japan last weekend that it would be unfair to drop Hamilton in at the deep end in Brazil, but that the team were still evaluating their options.

Hamilton himself appears in no rush to make the step up to F1, and has admitted that this week's test at Jerez marks the start of the 'proper' work of being a Grand Prix driver - after what he called a fun outing at Silverstone last month.

"I still smile but now I can start working seriously," he told autosport.com. "I am able to play with the set-up, but this test is not for me.

"At Silverstone it was just for me, but I am doing more for the team now. So it is not so much set-up work for me. Getting experience is great, and making so many changes here to the car is very interesting."