Hamilton to ‘drive’ McLaren next week

(GMM) McLaren protégé Lewis Hamilton will drive a silver racer at Jerez next week, according to reports emerging from Indianapolis.

But the Woking-based team, said to be considering giving the 21-year-old GP2 driver the unconfirmed seat next to Fernando Alonso in 2007, is reportedly insisting that the run is not a test to evaluate his candidacy for the role.

Rather, one of McLaren's sponsors is scheduled to do some filming, with Briton Hamilton named to drive the year-old MP4-20, which according to sources will be decked out in the chrome-like livery of 2006.

Also running at the Spanish circuit will be Pedro de la Rosa, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green.

It is expected, meanwhile, that Paffett and de la Rosa will 'test' – as opposed to merely 'drive' – this year's MP4-21.