Paul was left frustrated after driving rain and gale-force winds washed out the first day of his two-day test in the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One car at Silverstone today. As the skies opened he could only sit in the garage as the rain all but flooded the Northamptonshire track.
“Obviously it’s not ideal, but we can’t control the weather,” Paul said as he sheltered from the rain with the rest of the McLaren-Mercedes crew. “Basically it’s been a washout, which is really frustrating, but at least the forecast is dry for Wednesday,so I should get some running tomorrow.”
Paul’s drive at Silverstone this week comes just days after he impressed in a GP2 car at the Paul Ricard circuit. The two-day test in France was the first time he had driven a single-seater since winning the European Formula 3 Championship in 2006.
But with speculation growing over his future, Paul was swift to play down expectations and rumours surrounding next season.
“My commitment is totally focussed on ensuring I win the DTM title for Mercedes-Benz this season,” he stated. “This test in the F1 McLaren is a merely a continuation of the excellent relationship I have with both Mercedes and McLaren and people shouldn’t read too much into it.”
Paul, who won the McLaren Young Driver of the Year title in 2005, is scheduled to test the F1 car again on October 20/21.
JM