Paul di Resta will serve as the McLaren Formula 1 team’s ‘standby driver’ for t𓂃his weekend’s 70th Anniver👍sary Grand Prix at Silverstone.

In the event of either of its regular drivers Carlos Sainz or Lando Norris 🔥being ruled out of a race weekend, McLaren has an agreement to share Mercedes’ reserves Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez.

But🎀 with Vandoorne currently on Formula E duties ꩵat the 2019-20 season finale in Berlin, and with Gutierrez ineligible to race due to not qualifying for a superlicence, McLaren has moved to secure the services of ex-Force India racer di Resta.

The current Sky Sports F1 pundit underwent a seat fitting♋ at McLaren’s Woking factory on Wednesday prior to this weekend’s second race at Silverstone and has subsequently been nominated as the British outfit’s reserve driver.

"As we have previously confirmed🎐, we have an🎃 arrangement with Mercedes to use their reserve drivers in the event either Carlos or Lando are unable to race," a statement from McLaren read.

"With Stoffel Vandoorne unava💛ilable due to his Formula E commitments and Esteban Gutierrez currently not eligible for a superlicence, Paul di Resta will be ouﷺr standby driver this weekend.

"Paul carried out a seat fit at the MTC this morningꦜ in compliance with the FIA COVID-19 p💙rotocols but will not be in close contact with the McLaren race team unless needed.

"Paul will continue his dut𒊎ies with S🎃ky Sports F1 this weekend as planned."

Di Resta, who raced for Force India between 2011 and 2013, still holds a valid superlicence following his surprise appearance driving for Willi൲ams at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, when he stood in for the ill Felipe Massa.

Racing Point - which also shares the Mercedes reserves - was unable to use Gut♛ierrez and had to instead call upon Nico Hulkenberg at the British Grand Prix as replacement for Sergio Perez, who became the first F1 driver to be ruled out of a race weekend after the Mexican tested positive for COVID-19.

Following the British Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that Gutier𒈔rez is r💖equired to complete 300km of track running to earn his race license back with his last F1 outing coming at the end of 2016 with Haas.