Hamilton forced to wait for McLaren chance

Lewis Hamilton will have to wait until tomorrow before proving to McLaren he is ready for a crack at Formula One.

Hamilton had been due to test for the team at Silverstone today, but those plans have been put on hold for 24 hours due to track conditions and technical issues.

The 21-year-old, who recently won the GP2 series to underline his potential, instead performed nothing more than a shakedown lap – testing the car’s systems and radio – at a damp Northamptonshire circuit.

Hamilton will now test alongside current driver Pedro de la Rosa tomorrow and Thursday, with the duo effectively in a shootout for the remaining race seat for 2007.

McLaren recently confirmed reigning world champion Fernando Alonso would be joining the Woking-based team from next year, taking over from Kimi Raikkonen who is heading to Ferrari.

Former test driver De la Rosa is the man in pole position after being handed a drive in July following Juan Pablo Montoya’s departure to NASCAR in the United States.

However, Hamilton is seen as a rising star after being groomed in recent years by McLaren.