Photo: FIA Formula 2
Formula 2 driver Nikita Mazepin will drive Mercedes’ championship-leading 2019 Formula 1 car in this week’s in-season test at Barcelona.
The 20-year-old Russian is currently 16th in the F2 standings in his rookie season with ART Grand Prix, having finished second in GP3 with the team last year. Mazepin already has F1 test experience, having ran with Force India on multiple occasions over the last three years.
Oliver Oakes’ protege is known to have already tested an older Mercedes F1 car this year in a private programme, and it will be dependant on the team’s test programme whether he samples the current car on Tuesday or Wednesday.
There are several other F2 drivers lined up for the mid-week test, including DAMS’ championship leader Nicholas Latifi (Williams), Campos Racing’s Jack Aitken (Renault) and Sauber Junior Team by Charouz’s Callum Ilott (Alfa Romeo).
Former F2 racer Antonio Fuoco will drive for Ferrari after being signed up as the team’s simulator driver ahead of the season, with Racing Point (nee Force India) drafting in its simulator driver Nick Yelloly for both days of the test. The BMW factory driver was a winner in Formula V8 3.5 and GP3 in his single-seater.
Testing for a second time with Red Bull is Dan Ticktum, who started off his Super Formula season last month with an eighth place finish.