After the affair about the Grapsch video by the young Russian Nikita Mazepin, there was speculation that such stupidity should not be a reason for resignation. But Haas stands by his driver.
There are posts that you should think twice about, like the video that Formula 2 driver Nikita Mazepin posted online on December 9, 2020. Mick Schumacher’s future Haas stable mate posted a film that showed him and other people on a car trip in the Middle East. It could be seen how the racing pilot traveling in the passenger seat films the Venezuelan model Andrea d’IVal first and how the young woman’s dress slips. Mazepin reaches back and grabs the woman’s chest, Andrea pushes his hand away and shows him the middle finger.
The film was deleted from the relevant accounts after a short time, but the damage was already done. It also didn’t help that Mazepin apologized and the alleged victim spoke up and emphasized what a dear Nikita was and that everything was just a harmless joke between them. Nobody could really laugh, the reactions on the net were extremely violent and culminated in the question of whether such a man was actually mentally mature enough to become a regular Formula 1 driver.
A signature campaign was even started with the aim of preventing Mazepin from taking up his post at Haas. Critics of the Russian saw themselves confirmed when Haas criticized the behavior of the young racing driver: “The Haas F1 Team in no way condones the behavior of Nikita Mazepin in the video that was recently published on one of its social media channels. That this video was posted is hideous. “
Now Haas has made it clear: Mazepin’s cockpit is not in danger, the Russian will not be fired. «The Haas F1 Team would like to assure you that Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher form the driver duo for the 2021 season. We have stated that we will handle the matter internally. We will not give any further comments. “
To be precise, team boss Günther Steiner said. “We take this matter very seriously and we want to fix it. It is possible that you will never hear about a punishment because we may treat it privately. I’ve looked at it and it is part of my job to assess it soberly and objectively. I will talk to those affected. And then I’ll decide what to do. “
Abu Dhabi-GP, Yas Marina
1. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:36:30,256 h
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes, +15.976 sec
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +18,415
4. Alex Albon (T), Red Bull Racing, +19,987
5. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +1: 00,729 min
6. Carlos Sainz (E), McLaren, +1: 05.662
7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Renault, +1: 13.748
8. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +1:29,718
9. Esteban Ocon (F), Renault, +1:41,069
10. Lance Stroll (CDN), Racing Point, +1:42,738
11. Daniil Kvyat (RUS), AlphaTauri, +1 Runde
12. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +1 round
13. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +1 Runde
14. Sebastian Vettel (D), Ferrari, +1 Rounds
15. George Russell (GB), Williams, +1 Runde
16. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Alfa Romeo, +1 round
17. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +1 Runde
18. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Round
19. Pietro Fittipaldi (BR), Haas, +2 laps
Out
Sergio Pérez (MEX), Racing Point, power transmission
World Championship stand after 17 races
driver
1. Hamilton 347 points
2. Bottas 223
3. Verstappen 214
4. Pérez 125
5. Ricciardo 119
6. Sainz 105
7. Albon 105
8. Leclerc 98
9. Norris 97
10. Gasly 75
11. Stroll 75
12. Ocon 62
13. Vettel 33
14. Kvyat 32
15. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 10
16. Räikkönen 4
17. Giovinazzi 4
18. Russell 3
19. Romain Grosjean (F) 2
20. Magnussen 1
21. Latifi 0
22. Jack Aitken (GB) 0
23. Fittipaldi 0
Brands
1. Mercedes 573
2. Red Bull Racing 319
3. McLaren 202
4. Racing Point 195
5. Renault 181
6. Ferrari 131
7. AlphaTauri 107
8. Alfa Romeo 8
9. Haas 3
10. Williams 0
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