Lewis Hamilton will be the first man to test McLaren's 2011 car when it makes is on-track debut at Jerez in February, his team has confirmed.
The team is using an interim car for the first winter at Valencia from Feb. 1-3, before the new car runs at Jerez from Feb. 10-13. Test driver Gary Paffett will kick off proceedings in the MP4-25 at Valencia, before Hamilton and then Jenson Button get a day each to focus on tire development.
For the Jerez test, Hamilton will be first out in the MP4-26, with he and Button then alternating for the remainder of the preseason testing buildup at Jerez, Barcelona and Bahrain.
Hamilton has also been appointed a new physical trainer for 2011, with Antti Vierula now overseeing his development. Clayton Green, who worked with Hamilton last year, has been moved to a senior position within McLaren's Human High Performance program.