NIKITA MAZEPIN will race for Haas subsequent season in F1 regardless of a controversial video on-line.
The F1 group reaffirmed their dedication to the Russian driver to race alongside Mick Schumacher.
Nikita Mazepin will race for Haas subsequent season, the F1 group confirmedCredit score: Getty Photos
That is regardless of the 21-year-old posting a video of him groping a girl’s chest.
Haas, nonetheless, say the matter has been handled and the Russian will maintain his race seat subsequent season.
A press release learn: “Haas F1 Staff want to reaffirm that Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will type its driver lineup for the 2021 FIA Components 1 World Championship.
“As per the group’s earlier assertion concerning the actions of Nikita Mazepin (December 9) – this matter has now been handled internally and no additional remark shall be made.”
The Haas F1 group previously condemned the 21-year-old’s behaviour.
Staff boss Gunther Steiner stated: “We take it very significantly, as you noticed with what we despatched out. I simply need to reinforce that, that we are going to cope with it.
“I am not going into element on what we’ll do and the way we’ll do it, however we take it significantly, and we’ll work to kind this out, what occurred. Nothing extra to say.”
Mazepin is not any stranger to controversy each on and off the monitor.
Nikita Mazepin in motion for Hitech in the course of the 2020 F2 seasonCredit score: Getty Photos
Throughout his remaining F2 race in Bahrain final weekend he picked up two penalty factors to take his tally to 11 – one in need of a one-race ban.
And in 2016, he was banned from a European Components 3 race for punching Brit Callum Ilott.
Steiner added: “That’s a part of it, what we’ll converse to him about privately.
“I do not need to go public on how we’re doing this. I simply return, I do not need to remark any extra.
“I assume I ask folks to respect that privateness, as a result of we deal with it significantly. However we’ll cope with it.”
F1 and the FIA issued a joint assertion to assist Haas and condemn Mazepin’s behaviour.
It stated: “The moral ideas and numerous and inclusive tradition of our sport are of the utmost significance to the FIA and Components One.”
Having deleted the put up, Mazepin apologised for his actions, insisting he should maintain himself ‘to the next commonplace’.
He wrote: “I want to apologise for my current actions each by way of my very own inappropriate behaviour and the truth that it was posted onto social media.
“I’m sorry for the offense I’ve rightly prompted and to the embarrassment I’ve delivered to Haas F1 Staff.
“I’ve to carry myself to the next commonplace as a Components 1 driver and I acknowledge I’ve let myself and many individuals down.
“I promise I’ll study from this.”
A lady who claims to have been within the video, nonetheless, has insisted the incident was an ‘inner joke’ between ‘associates’.
She wrote: “Hello guys, I simply need to let you recognize Nikita and I’ve been good associates for a very long time and nothing from the video was severe in any respect!
“We belief one another a lot and this was a foolish means of joking between us.
“I posted the video on his story as an inner joke. I’m really sorry.
“I may give you my phrase he is a very good particular person and he would by no means do something to harm or humiliate me.”