Mazepin to test privately with Mercedes

Nikita Mazepin will drive the Mercedes W08 in a series of private tests throughout 2019 alongside his Formula 2 campaign. The Russian, who missed out on the GP3 title last year, will contest the F2 campaign with ART alongside Nyck de Vries.

Mazepin's private test outings do not make him part of the Silver Arrows' junior squad. Currently, Esteban Ocon and George Russell are Mercedes' young drivers, with the former assisting Mazepin at the tests in a coaching capacity.

Official testing regulations include two four day tests prior to the start of the season and four days of in-season running throughout the year. However, cars that are built to the regulations of the three years "immediately prior to the calendar year preceding the [current] championship" are eligible for running.

That means the 2015 2016 and 2017 cars are all available for private testing. Mazepin will drive Mercedes' championship-winning '17 car at tests throughout the year, bringing him up to speed in the current generation of high-downforce F1 cars.