Photo: Zak Mauger / GP3 Series Media Service
GP3 runner-up Nikita Mazepin will remain with ART Grand Prix to step up to Formula 2 next year, and could be joined by Nyck de Vries.
Russian driver Mazepin fought for the GP3 title with team-mate Anthoine Hubert until the final round of his rookie season in Abu Dhabi last weekend.
On Sunday he claimed his fourth win of the season, having previously spent two seasons in European Formula 3 with Hitech with three podiums to his name.
?I am really happy to be continuing with ART Grand Prix for my step up to F2,” said the 19-year-old.
“This is a natural progression given our success this year in GP3. I am very much looking forward to the challenge of my rookie season in F2.”
Mazepin will make his F2 debut in this week’s Abu Dhabi test with ART, which ran GP3 graduate George Russell to the 2018 title.
?Continuing our partnership with Nikita into Formula 2 is the logical continuation of a successful 2018 season, where he was consistently in the fight for victory and for the GP3 title, something he only just missed out on in the final race weekend of the season,” said team boss Sebastien Philippe.
“Nikita was a rookie in GP3, but his performances were remarkable from day one with a stunning victory in Barcelona. Nikita has several strengths: he is fast and he constantly strives to progress in everything he does. I’m sure he can be a centrepiece in our Formula 2 team, just as he was in GP3.”
Mazepin has tested Formula 1 machinery with Force India, and his father Dmitry’s business Uralchem was involved in an attempted bid for the team before it was sold to Lawrence Stroll.
De Vries has been linked with a move from Prema to be Mazepin’s team-mate next season, according to Motorsport.com.
The Dutch driver, who came fourth in the 2018 F2 standings, previously raced for ART in GP3.