Renault hands Aitken F1 test shot in Spain

Renault has confirmed Jack Aitken will get his debut in a latest-specification Formula 1 car as he takes on driving duties on the second day of the first in-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Carlos Sainz Jr will test for Renault on the first day, Tuesday May 15^th two days after the Spanish Grand Prix, before handing over to the French manufacturer’s F1 test driver Aitken.

The British driver joined the Renault F1 junior programme at the start of 2016 and is acting as a protégé to Sainz and Hulkenberg this year alongside his maiden Formula 2 campaign with ART Grand Prix.

Aitken secured a maiden F2 podium last time out in the feature race in Azerbaijan and sits seventh in the riders’ championship after the opening two rounds.

The 22-year-old has recently tested the 2012-specificaiton E20 F1 car but this will mark his F1 debut in current year cars.

Renault has become the latest team to announce its testing line-up after Toro Rosso confirmed Sean Gelael (Tuesday) and Pierre Gasly (Wednesday), while fellow F2 driver Lando Norris will spend two days in action for McLaren, one day for the official team and the other with the Pirelli tyre test car, splitting testing duties with Stoffel Vandoorne and Oliver Turvey.

Williams’ official young driver Oliver Rowland will also make his F1 test debut next week on Tuesday before handing over to Robert Kubica on day two. Force India has also confirmed it will run Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin at the Spain test.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Our Barcelona Test driver line-up is confirmed!

Day 1 - Carlos Sainz
Day 2 - Jack Aitken

What say you @JaitkenRacer?
#RSspirit #BarcelonaTest pic.twitter.com/IkojzWG1fF

— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) May 7, 2018