F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Mercedes hands Barcelona test outing to Mazepin

Formula 2 racer Nikita Mazepin will drive for Mercedes alongside Valtteri Bottas at this week's two-day test in Barcelona which kicks off on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Russian - who tested for Force India in the past - will be handed one day of running onboard the team's W10 although Mercedes has yet to decide on which day he will take to the track.

Mazepin, whose credentials include a runner-up spot in the last year's GP3 championship, is currently conducting a private testing programme in collaboration with Mercedes and funded by his father, Belarus-born Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, a core shareholder of chemical giants Uralchem and Uralkali.

As a sponsor of Force India in 2018 through Uralkali, Dmitry Mazepin put himself on the ranks to acquire the Silverstone-based team last summer.

However, his offer was rebuffed by Force India's administrators in favour of a superior proposition submitted by a consortium of investors led by Lawrence Stroll, a deal which led to the creation of Racing Point.

Nikita Mazepin's training programme with Mercedes includes 12 days of running on various tracks at the wheel of a 2017-spec W08.

Mazepin won't be the only F2 racer or young charger entrusted with an opportunity to test the waters of Formula 1 this week.

McLaren is expected to provide some F1 mileage to junior driver Sergio Sette Camara, while current F2 championship leader Nicholas Latifi will be running with Williams.

Ferrari has included former academy member Antonio Fuoco in its line-up, while Scuderia junior Callum Ilott joins Alfa Romeo this week.

Jack Aitken, Pietro Fittipaldi and Dan Ticktum will be givven an opportunity to boost their F1 experiience in Barcelona, respectively with Renault, Haas and Red Bull Racing.

Racing Point will entrust its RP19 to simulator driver Nick Yelloly who has now steered his career towards GT racing. The 28-year-old Brit finished runner-up in the Porsche Supercup series last year.

Racing Point and Ferrari will both run additional cars on Tuesday and Wednesday devoted to Pirelli's development programme.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Tsunoda ‘not giving up’ on F1 as ‘anything can happen’

In the high-stakes, musical-chairs reality of the Formula 1 paddock, being sidelined by a team…

9 hours ago

‘Not about protecting position’: Komatsu eyes bigger Haas challenge

Anyone walking into the Haas hospitality suite during pre-season testing and suggesting they would be…

11 hours ago

When the third time was a charm for Lauda

In 1982, it took only three races for Niki Lauda to seal his successful comeback…

12 hours ago

Coulthard: Time for Russell to ‘start eroding’ Antonelli’s confidence

There’s a fine line in Formula 1 between harmony and hierarchy – and right now…

13 hours ago

Gasly: ‘Too much negativity’ around F1’s rules – but changes needed

For all the noise generated by Formula 1’s controversial 2026 regulations, Pierre Gasly is striking…

15 hours ago

Brundle: Wheatley a good catch – but Aston must ‘settle down’

Sky F1’s Martin Brundle has backed Jonathan Wheatley’s expected move to Aston Martin, a team…

16 hours ago