Mazepin: I am not proud of my actions

Nikita mazepin knew he was expected around the corner. Since the publication on Instagram last December of a video showing him making inappropriate gestures towards a young woman, the Russian has come under uninterrupted criticism.

On social networks, the slightest sharing of content linked to Mazepin by its new team Haas leads to a deluge of reproaches, gathered under the hashtag #WeSayNotoMazepin. 

The American team assures that its recruit has been adequately reprimanded internally but the presentation this Thursday of the livery that its new VF-21 will sport this season also underlines the almost non-existent room for maneuver available to the team.

Haas has indeed announced the arrival of a new title sponsor in 2021, which is none other than the Russian company Uralkali headed by Dmitry Mazepin, father of who-you-know. 

For 20 minutes this Thursday morning, his son Nikita submitted to questions from journalists, the vast majority relating to his off-track behavior. If Mazepin does not lack confidence, his defense was quite shaky. The 22-year-old young man therefore believes that his actions were not acceptable “ for a pilot Formula 1 ».

« I'm not proud of my actions, repeated Mazepin. I didn't behave as I should have. I made a big mistake and I accept full responsibility for it. (...) 

When you reach Formula 1, you become an example for many young people, who want to follow in your footsteps. You have to adopt a certain attitude. I didn't do it right away.

The team really helped and supported me. They made me aware of my actions and were very patient with me ». 

Asked if he had realized that such actions were reprehensible, whether you race in a Grand Prix or not, the 22-year-old Russian assured that he understood the scope of his actions. 

« Whether on or off the track, as human beings, we must adopt a certain behavior among ourselves to live peacefully in society “, he felt obliged to add in a rather strange formulation. Faced with the fans' revolt, Mazepin now wants to respond on the track.

« I can't change the way people express themselves, did he declare. I will do everything possible to ensure that my results speak for me ». 

In this area either, the Russian will not have it easy given the measured expectations that accompany Haas during this offseason. 

The VF-21, which will be truly unveiled ahead of the winter tests in Bahrain (March 12-14), will not be able to correct all the deficiencies of its predecessor due to the partial development freeze in force this winter. And like last year, Haas does not plan to make many changes during the season.