Pirelli test with 2011 car ’likely’ - McLaren

McLaren has admitted it is "likely" to help Pirelli with tyre testing at some point in the future.

We reported early this week that the British team could be next in line, after it emerged at Monza that Red Bull will be taking a 2011 car to Barcelona this week to test 2014-specification tyres for F1’s official supplier.

Red Bull’s test, featuring test driver Sebastien Buemi and 2014 racer Daniel Ricciardo, was to take place over two days and 1000 kilometres.

"Pirelli regularly approach all teams to help with their tyre testing," McLaren sporting director Sam Michael told us on Friday.

"Although it is likely that McLaren will support Pirelli at one of their future tests, with a 2011 car, no venue or date has been confirmed at this time," he added.

After the so-called ’test-gate’ scandal involving Mercedes earlier this year, a McLaren spokesman insisted on Friday that any McLaren test would be totally unremarkable, within the rules, and not a secret.