
McLaren has played down reports that its 2014 car is yet to pass all of the mandatory FIA crash tests, but has also refuse to confirm if the team be will present on day one of Jerez testing.
At this time of the year it’s normal for all teams to be pushing everything to the limit in an effort to extract the most performance, and crash tests are no different,” a spokesman told Grand Prix 247.
“McLaren will pass all the tests prior to track running,” he added.
When pressed for comment on the MP4-29 running at Jerez, the spokesman said, “As I say, McLaren will pass all the tests prior to track running.”
However, it is not clear if the tests will be passed in time for the first pre-season session at Jerez in just over a week. Eric Boullier said recently he knew as “fact” that Lotus will not be the only team missing in southern Spain.
El Mundo Deportivo said that McLaren has scheduled a new round of crash tests for the forthcoming week.
Lotus also struck trouble with its FIA tests recently, but the Enstone based team announced that the E22 is now fully homologated, even though it will only debut at the second test, in Bahrain.
It is believed an innovative nose design was the reason for the Lotus crash test delay, with Italy’s Omnicorse speculating that the team will revive a ‘walrus’-style solution similar to Williams’ memorable 2004 car. (GMM)
Subbed by AJN.