Haas calls Nikita Mazepin’s video “odious”
The future Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin is in turmoil following the release of a controversial video on his Instagram account.
Since Wednesday morning, a video from Nikita Mazepin’s Instagram account has been widely circulated on social media. In this video filmed in a car, the Russian is seen making inappropriate gestures towards a woman in the back of the vehicle.
His collaboration in F1 with Haas is not starting in the best way. As soon as this video appeared, many internet users expressed outrage, demanding the departure of the Muscovite from the team with the hashtag #MazepinOut. In response to this uproar, the American team quickly released an official statement on Twitter:
TEAM STATEMENT: Haas F1 Team does not condone the behavior of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media. Additionally, the very fact that the video was posted on social media is also abhorrent to Haas F1 Team. (1/2)
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) December 9, 2020
« The Haas F1 Team does not tolerate the behavior of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media. Furthermore, the mere fact that the video was published on social media is also appalling to the Haas F1 Team. »
The team also adds that the issue is being handled internally and no further comment will be made at this time.
On his side, the Russian driver made sure to apologize to his team on his social networks: « I want to apologize for both my inappropriate behavior and sharing it on social media. I am sorry for the harm I have rightly caused and for the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team. I must conduct myself in an exemplary manner as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge having disappointed many people and myself. I promise to learn from it. »
The young woman, Andrea Ival, who appears in the video, simultaneously stated on Instagram: I just want to tell you that Nikita and I have been friends for a long time and nothing in this video was serious! We truly trust each other, and it was a silly way to joke between us. I posted this video on his story as a joke between us. I am really sorry. I can give you my word that he is truly a good person and would never do anything to hurt or humiliate me.
Ranked 5th in the 2020 Formula 2 championship, Nikita Mazepin will make his debut in F1 next year with Haas F1 Team alongside Mick Schumacher. The young Russian already made a name for himself (on track this time) last weekend during the F2 meeting in Bahrain, frequently executing extremely dangerous maneuvers during the race. For these questionable actions, he received a ten-second penalty after the finish of race one. At the start of race two, he had only one point left on his super license, just one point away from a race suspension.
