The Mercedes team has scheduled a two-day test at Silverstone next week with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas as it gears up for the start of the 2020 season.
The Silver Arrow squad will roll out its 2018 championship winning W09 for the occasion and allocate a full day of running to each of its drivers.
"Valtteri (Tuesday) and Lewis (Wednesday) will drive the 2018 Mercedes W09 in a two-day test as the team practices protocols ahead of returning to racing in Austria next month," the team tweeted.
As a reminder, teams are not allowed by regulations to test with current-spec cars, but Mercedes' two days of running with its W09 obviously falls outside the sport's restrictions.
However, the Brackley outfit will be required to supply the FIA with relevant information regarding the purpose of the test, the equipment and its drivers.
The run will provide Mercedes staff with an opportunity to warm up for next month's curtain-raiser at the Red Bull Ring but also practice working under the safety and hygiene measures that will be in force at the start of the season, such as physical distancing, the wearing of masks, etc…
Mercedes is the first team to announce a preparation test but it's likely that its front-running rivals - Ferrari and Red Bull - will also roll out older cars to allow their teams and drivers to warm-up ahead of F1's resumption.
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