Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has undergone a seat fitting with Mercedes ahead of his and Lewis Hamilton's ride swap.
The two motorsport stars are set to swap rides next week at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia as part of a promotional event run by joint-sponsor Monster Energy.
Six-time F1 champion Hamilton will get to ride Rossi's Yamaha, which follows last year's December test in which he rode a Yamaha R1m superbike.
"I’m super excited about it,” Hamilton said last month. "Just being on the same track at the same time as Valentino is going to be very, very surreal, and a real honour, because he’s such an icon in the sport, and he’s done so much. It’ll be cool to see him in my car as well."
Rossi will get behind the wheel of the 2017 Mercedes W08 and underwent a seat fitting this week, sharing images on social media with the caption: "I think me and Lewis Hamilton will have some fun soon".
Rossi last tasted F1 machinery almost a decade ago when he drove a 2008-spec Ferrari at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which promoted rumours that the Italian could switch to F1, though of course that never materalised.
Super excited to swap rides with the legend Valentino Rossi very soon… Watch this space guys. You ready @ValeYellow46? ðŸðŸ’¥ðŸ’¨ @MonsterEnergy @MercedesAMGF1 @YamahaMotoGP #LH44VR46 pic.twitter.com/yVcalan8Vo
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 5, 2019
