Formula 2 drivers to star in Barcelona F1 tests

Five FIA Formula 2 drivers will be taking part in this week’s Formula 1 post-Barcelona Grand Prix test.

Jack Aitken will jump into the seat of the Renault F1 car on Wednesday, with current F1 driver Nico Hülkenberg testing on the Tuesday. The 24-year-old graduated from the team’s academy programme ahead of this season and was named as one of their official test drivers.

Championship leader Nicholas Latifi will continue his association with the Williams F1 team and has been confirmed as a driver for both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Canadian stretched his lead in the title fight over the weekend, with a victory in the Feature Race.

Three of the five drivers taking part will be making their F1 debuts: Russian rookie Nikita Mazepin will be one of those when he tests for Mercedes, but it has yet to be confirmed which day, with Valtteri Bottas also taking part. The GP3 runner-up graduated to F2 this season, when he joined ART Grand Prix.

Sérgio Sette Câmara is also set to make his F1 debut in the McLaren car. The Brazilian joined the team’s Young Driver Programme as a Test and Development Driver last November and currently sits sixth in the driver’s standings, after switching to DAMS in off-season.

The final of the debuting trio is Callum Ilott, who was confirmed as a tester for Alfa Romeo in Spain ahead of Round 1 of the season. Barcelona was a happy hunting ground for the Briton, who earned his first points of the season in the Feature Race, before making the podium in the Sprint Race.