English rookie Lewis Hamilton described his first laps around Silverstone since graduating to the role of McLaren-Mercedes test driver as “phenomenal”, despite being confined to installation runs on the first day of this week’s Formula 1 test at the British Grand Prix venue.

The GP2 Series champion, whose meteoric career has been backed by McLaren for the last nine years, has been linked to a race drive with the team alongside Fernando Alonso in 2007.

And while he was hoping to have his first proper outing in the MP4-21 on Tuesday, a combination of poor weather and logistical issues meant he was only able to complete a handful of shakedown laps.

Nevertheless the 21-year-old could not hide his excitement at his impending step up to the big time.

“It was a great feeling getting in the car,” he said at Silverstone.

“To be honest I was fairly relaxed this morning. But just as soon as you get on the track, you just realise what’s going on and where you are.

“Obviously I have driven the car before but I had done it in someone else’s suit, and now I am in my own suit and my own gear and it’s just a phenomenal feeling.”

Hamilton’s infectious enthusiasm gives an insight as to just what it means for the Brit to finally be able to contribute properly to the McLaren programme.

His season, which saw him beat Nelson Piquet Jr to the GP Series crown, has been dominated as much by his rumoured step up to Formula 1 as his swashbuckling on-track style.

And with Juan Pablo Montoya’s unscheduled departure from the team in July, the speculation has merely intensified further.

But Hamilton says, right now, he is just taking it all in his stride, and he is glad to finally be able to concentrate on growing into his new role as McLaren test driver.

“Even though it is only a shakedown, again being in my own kit, knowing that my season is out of the way so that I can focus on this and really just enjoy it,” he said.

“Every time they start up the car I can’t help but smile, I try and stay serious but I get this big grin on my face and then as you pull out of the garage and go down the pitlane you just try top absorb it and take that moment.”

Hamilton is scheduled to test alongside Pedro de la Rosa on Wednesday and Thursday at Silverstone, beginning what is expected to be a long-term development programme that will continue at Jerez, in Spain, next week.