McLaren's quest to improve on last year's performance with a good start to 2014 is in doubt with reports hinting that their car may not be ready for the first pre-season test in Spain at the end of January.
It has been claimed that the Woking-based constructor's MP4-29 car is yet to pass all its FIA crash tests that are necessary before a team can race, but McLaren have played down suggestions of problems.
A spokesman told Motorsport-Total.com that teams pushing tight deadlines with the car's development is normal ahead of a new season and is done "in order to achieve the best possible performance".
Earlier this week, team boss Martin Whitmarsh's position was put in doubt with the return of Ron Dennis as group chief executive at McLaren, with Ross Brawn heavily linked with Whitmarsh's role on the pit wall.
The season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
