Mercedes is said to have abandoned Mazepin after controversy

Nikita Mazepin did not appear in the news in a good way last week. First, his driving behaviour during Formula 2 races on the Bahrain circuit was criticised and a few days later he posted a video on social media. That already seems to have consequences now.

The video shows Mazepin in a car grabbing a female passenger by the breast from the passenger seat without consent. Mazepin made excuses and the woman in question said it was a joke. However, that does not seem to be enough for Mercedes.

During the broadcast of the second free practice session on Ziggo Sport, reporter Rick Winkelman says that Mercedes would have liked to use the Russian for the Young Driver Test next week. Now he will be replaced by Nyck de Vries.

The real reason for this decision is not yet entirely clear, but it seems that it has to do with this scandal and that Mercedes does not want to be associated with it. This decision will cost them a few pennies, because Mazepin's father is said to pay 1 million euro for every day that Mazepin is in the car.