Bottas drives McLaren in private tests in Barcelona

      Today, McLaren is conducting private tests at the Barcelona circuit, and Valtteri Bottas is driving the 2023 MCL60.

      This is the first such experience of the Finn, who has raced for Williams, Mercedes and Sauber during his career, and has now returned to the Stuttgart factory team, but as a reserve driver. But at the same time, his duties include, if necessary, providing such services to client teams.

      Aston Martin has its own reserves, Felipe Drugovic and Stoffel Vandoorne, while Valtteri is tasked with working with McLaren and Williams.

      And today in Barcelona, Bottas is working with McLaren as part of the TCP program (i.e. Testing of a Previous Car, "Tests of cars from previous years of production"), and his task is to get an idea of the MCL60, about the features of the technology that the Woking team creates, in case someone needs to be replaced.- one of the riders of its main team.

      There is no doubt that Valtteri is interested in getting such an experience, especially since he dreams of returning to Formula 1, and it is possible that he will have such a chance when Cadillac F1, the new team that will start the championship in 2026, will select the drivers.

      It is worth adding that McLaren has not yet shared any information about these tests, and the Finn has not mentioned this on his social media pages either.