Sam MIchaels - whats the deal?

Just watching FP3 and the commentary are talking about Sam Michaels not being in team kit. I know Sam Michaels moved from Williams to Mclaren a few months ago and its not the first time he's not been in team kit - i assumed it was due to his contract not yet starting or some red tape like that.

But in Brazil FP3 again it was mentioned he wasnt wearing team kit and that hes' also not allowed to speak to the press "as part of the deal". So what IS this deal which is preventing him from wearing team kit or talking to the press but is allowed to work for mclaren?

Can someone enlighten me?

you summed it up yourself

He's contract hasn't started yet as he was expected to see out the season at Williams but they let him go early

Ah, ok so it wont start until next season? I thought it had started already, but not as soon as he started mixing with mclaren.

Id presume so , I think this is him just getting to know the team at the moment

Definately looking forward to tomorrow race's now 90% chance of rain

90%!!!! Should be fun and quali will matter most!

It's what they said in Practice 3 near the beginning they asked all the team managers and they all said Rain for sunday

ah... missed the first 20 mins of FP3