Russian racing driver Nikita Dmitryevich Mazepin, 21, was signed by the Haas Formulation 1 workforce per week in the past to drive one among its vehicles for the 2021 season. On December 1st, Mazepin, who completed fifth within the 2020 FIA Formulation 2 factors standings and gained two races, thanked the workforce for placing its belief in him. One week later, that belief was betrayed, and the popularity of the workforce, in addition to the entire of Formulation 1, was put in danger by his actions.
In a video — since deleted — posted to Mazepin’s Instagram tales at approximately 4:30 within the morning native UAE time, the younger Russian filmed himself within the passenger seat of a shifting automotive reaching into the again seat to grope a visibly intoxicated lady. The girl tries to dam this motion and crosses her arms in entrance of herself to forestall him from doing this.
In an act of self-preservation, Mazepin was doing his greatest to avoid wasting face within the chilly mild of at present. A half-assed apology posted to his Twitter account is an try and downplay the groping and hope it simply goes away. That is, to me, indicative of somebody who doesn’t take duty for his actions, has not realized something and is unlikely to vary his habits sooner or later.
I say this as a result of Mazepin has a protracted historical past of not taking duty for his actions, not studying something and never altering his habits. As Racer.com’s Chris Medland rightly factors out, Mazepin has not solely been a poor consultant of the game on social media, he’s no higher on the racetrack. He’s a hot-head who doesn’t contemplate the results earlier than he acts.
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Nikita is the son of Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian chemical substances billionaire. Maybe he has had the whole lot handed to him on the proverbial silver platter, has by no means been instructed “no” and has by no means needed to really feel harsh penalties, so the youthful Mazepin might assume it amusing to fondle a younger lady with out her consent after which submit it to social media. Does that sound just like the sort of particular person you’d need representing your sport? Does that sound just like the sort of function mannequin you’d need your youngsters watching on TV on a Sunday morning?
Haas issued a press release within the aftermath of all this.
“Haas F1 Group doesn’t condone the habits of Nikita Mazepin within the video just lately posted on his social media,” the assertion reads. “Moreover, the actual fact the video was posted on social media can also be abhorrent to Haas F1 Group. The matter is being handled internally and no additional remark shall be made at the moment.”
His actions have been abhorrent, however Haas isn’t going to do something extra about it. As a result of the workforce wants the cash. As a result of Mazepin brings solvency to the Haas F1 effort. It’s attainable that Mazepin being onboard means the workforce can afford to deliver a reputation like Mick Schumacher to the workforce. Haas can’t do something however distance itself from this, and like Mazepin, hope it goes away.
If Haas does permit this younger man to race for the workforce subsequent season, it should personal the abhorrence. It is going to eternally be tied to the child who wasn’t mature sufficient to maintain his fucking arms to himself.
As somebody so rightly placed on Twitter this morning, if a Formulation E driver might be fired for faking his leads to a digital race, a Formulation 1 driver might be faraway from the game completely for sexual assault.
