McLaren see Paffett as potential champion

Having only joined the team at the end of last year, after shining in winter tests following his championship-winning DTM season, Paffett has already impressed his bosses considerably.

And McLaren's F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh is adamant that if Paffett continues the rate of progress he is showing, then he has every chance of becoming a front-running F1 driver.

"We have known Gary for a number of years and he has demonstrated he is a winner," said Whitmarsh. "He has won in every category of motorsport he has participated in, sometimes in low budget teams and last year with Mercedes-Benz, but he is a winner and he has proven that.

"His learning ability was demonstrated in some work we did with him last year and in the last few tests he has become more confident and stronger.

"We believe he has the potential to be a very successful F1 driver, but he has to keep learning and not plateau in his ability."

Paffett has emerged as a contender for a race drive at McLaren in 2007, amid speculation that both Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya may choose to leave the team at the end of this year.

Whitmarsh drew short of saying how good a chance Paffett has of an opportunity with the team next year but admitted that the team are keeping a close eye on him.

"If he did not have the potential to be a successful driver, or a potential world champion, then we would not be investing the time that we are," added Whitmarsh.

"The time when drivers reach their plateau varies and we don't think he has reached that yet. He is a feet-on-the-ground, no-nonsense individual and even here (in Barcelona) this morning, listening to the drivers talking among themselves, it is clear he is respected by racing drivers who want to know what he thinks."