Renault gives Aitken Barcelona F1 test outing

Aitken is a member of the Renault Sport Academy and was promoted to the role of reserve driver for the F1 team at the start of this year.

The Briton, who is racing in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix this season, sampled F1 machinery for the first time at Jerez last year when he drove a Lotus E20 chassis from the 2012 season.

He also completed a demonstration run in the E20 at Toulon last weekend.

Aitken will drive this year's car on the second day of the Barcelona test next Wednesday, taking over from race driver Carlos Sainz Jr, who will be in charge of testing duties on the Tuesday after the grand prix.

Fellow F2 racer Sean Gelael will also be in action at Barcelona, testing for Toro Rosso on the opening day before handing the car over to Pierre Gasly.

Formula 2 championship leader Lando Norris will drive for McLaren on both days, sharing the car with Stoffel Vandoorne and Oliver Turvey.

Williams's young driver Oliver Rowland will make his debut in this year's FW41 before being replaced by Robert Kubica on the second day.

Force India will run Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin, the former also carrying out testing work for Pirelli alongside George Russell in a second car.