Social media duo Shepmates lashed online after filming George Russell in the toilet at Australian Formula 1 GP

A popular Australian social media duo have been lashed online after they filmed and shared a video of a Formula 1 driver urinating.

Aussie influencers Shepmates, the twins that went viral for their comedic takes on famous sporting commentary moments, have since deleted the footage of Mercedes driver George Russell using a public toilet.

The video, filmed at the Australian Grand Prix while the pair were working as ambassadors for broadcaster Paramount, was on TikTok and Instagram for almost 18 hours.

The page, run by brothers Archie and Miles Shepherd, has been slammed online in a strong public response to what many have called an invasion of privacy.

“So I just took a piss next to George Russell,” one of the twins says in the video.

“I know what you’re thinking, ‘How big is it?’

“That stays between me and George. There’s confidentiality in the men’s urinal.

“What I can say is he looks really relaxed. Confident stream, we were there for a while so he’s obviously really hydrated and prepared for the race. He really opened the floodgates.

“Keen to see his time trial and go George.”

Australian sports journalist Shane McInnes described the incident as “reprehensible” in a post to X.

“The behaviour of @shepmates recording Mercedes driver George Russell at a urinal at the #AusGP, posting it on Instagram & Tik Tok and then boasting about it is disgusting and reprehensible,” he wrote.

“Will they apologise? Even if they do, credentials for future races should be denied.”

The pair earlier posted videos to social media wearing Paramount-branded safety suits in a skit where they pretended to be a team’s pit crew.

The race itself has started in dramatic circumstances, with favourite and reigning world champion Max Verstappen pulling out after his Red Bull caught on fire in the early stages.