Paffett promised McLaren test
Newly crowned DTM champion Gary Paffett's hopes of making the switch to Formula One in the near future have been handed a massive boost with McLaren promising him a test this winter
Paffett earned major plaudits when he tested for McLaren in December 2002 and January 2003, but the chances of landing a full-time test deal fell through when he decided to hold out on the chance of a Jordan race drive instead.
That Jordan opportunity eventually came to nothing, and he also missed out on a chance at Sauber last season after earning high praise from team boss Peter Sauber, but Paffett has made no secret that his priority is still on F1.
And after clinching the DTM title at Hockenheim last weekend, Paffett has been given a fresh opportunity to impress F1 figures with Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug offering him a run with McLaren.
"I can savour the achievement of winning the championship and look forward to the test, because it is a step in the right direction to Formula One, which is where I want to be eventually," said Paffett, who still has another year to run on his DTM contract with Mercedes-Benz.
"Let's see what happens. At the moment, it looks like I'll be defending my title in the DTM, because there are no race seats available in F1 next year. That in itself will be a massive challenge for myself and the team, who I have to thank for giving me such a fantastic car this year."
Haug has nothing but praise for the job that Paffett has done this year.
"Gary showed his class today and he is the man of the year," he explained. "He deserves the title in what was a challenging and demanding year."
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Gary Paffett |
| Teams | McLaren |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
