Force India has announced both Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin for more Formula 1 test runs in the German Grand Prix and the post-Hungarian Grand Prix in-season test.
After making his race weekend debut for Force India in the Canadian Grand Prix, FIA Formula 2 Championship driver Latifi will get another FP1 chance when he replaces Esteban Ocon during the German GP.
The Canadian will then return to drive the VJM11 on Day 1 of the in-season test at Hungaroring on July 31. He will give way to GP3 Series racer Mazepin for Day 2 on August 1 to complete the test run.
Racing for DAMS’ in the F2 championship, Latifi sits 13th in the drivers’ standings with 34 points with a lone podium in Baku whereas Mazepin in his first year in GP3 with ART Grand Prix is fourth with 51 points.
The Russian already has a win to his name to go with a podium finish. The 19-year-old drove the VJM11 in the pre-season test and also during the two-day Barcelona in-season test following the Spanish Grand Prix.
Latifi was scheduled to drive the car in the pre-season test but was taken ill and got his first chance in Barcelona alongside Mazepin. The team with Sergio Perez and Ocon is amid a difficult run in the 2018 season as it battles with Renault, Haas and McLaren.
After 10 races, Force India sits sixth in the standings with 49 points as Renault is fourth on 70 followed by Haas on 51. McLaren is behind Force India with 48 points.
