Mercedes confirmed Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will share driving duties in each of the three pre-season testing days which begins on Friday.
The team opted to use this strategy of running two drivers on the same day in previous years, unlike other teams who traditionally decide to run one driver for the whole day.
There are just 24 hours of testing this year, meaning Hamilton and Bottas will get 12 hours each at the wheel of the W12.
Mercedes pre-season testing schedule
| Date (CET) | Driver |
|---|---|
| Friday March 12 (8:00-1200) | Bottas |
| Friday March 12 (13:00-17:00) | Hamilton |
| Saturday March 13 (8:00-1200) | Hamilton |
| Saturday March 12 (13:00-17:00) | Bottas |
| Sunday March 14 (8:00-1200) | Bottas |
| Sunday March 12 (13:00-17:00) | Hamilton |
Don't miss out on any of the Formula 1 action thanks to this handy 2026 F1 calendar that can be easily loaded into your smartphone or PC.
Download the calenderMost read
In this article
Join the conversation!