Bottas is testing a McLaren in Barcelona today
Valtteri Bottas is getting his first ever run in a McLaren Formula 1 car with a TPC test at the Barcelona circuit today as part of his role as Mercedes reserve driver.
As with previous Mercedes reserves his job extends to him also being available to the marque’s customer teams.
Aston Martin splits the reserve role between Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne, but Bottas is on standby for both McLaren and Williams.
Unusually for an experienced reserve driver Bottas has committed to being present at all 24 races this season, in essence because his availability to three teams has increased the chances of an opportunity arising at some stage.
Like Aston some teams split the reserve role, with one driver at the track on race weekends, and the other usually working in the sim.
The run in the McLaren MCL60 is simply a chance for him to familiarise himself with the Woking team and the car controls should he be called on at some stage this season.
It will be his first track outing since his final race with Sauber at the end of last season.
Bottas is expected to test a Mercedes at some stage this year, although thus far there are no firm plans for him to be given a run by Williams, for whom he raced in 2012-2016.