Haas team reacts to ‘abhorrent’ Mazepin video on Instagram

The Haas F1 Team has reacted to a now-deleted salacious video posted on Instagram by its 2021 driver Nikita Mazepin.

The Russian driver who will step up to F1 next season with Haas has built himself a bit of a bad reputation on the track, thanks to a few uncompromising or downright dangerous maneuvers against his rivals.

But Mazepin’s behaviour off the track has also been singled out on occasion, particularly by fellow F2 racer Callum Ilott who was once left with a swollen jaw and a black eye following a post-race altercation with the hot-headed Russian.

Earlier this week, Mazepin posted to his Instagram Stories a video in which he is filming himself in the passenger seat of a Porsche, traveling in the UAE, before groping a young woman seated in the back whose dress had apparently accidently slid off.

©Haas

The video, which Mazepin eventually deleted, sparked a wave of outrage on social media, with fans urging Haas to drop the 21-year-old pay driver from its 2021 plans.

“Haas F1 Team does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media,” read a statement from the team.

“Additionally, the very fact that the video was posted on social media is also abhorrent to Haas F1 Team.

“The matter is being dealt with internally and no further comment shall be made at this time.”

Mazepin followed up Haas’ statement with an apology, insisting his behaviour had been “inappropriate”.

“I would like to apologise for my recent actions both in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour and the fact that it was posted onto social media,” Mazepin said.

“I am sorry for the offense I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team.

“I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this.”