Haas has come out condemning the behavior of incoming Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin for his actions in a video posted on Instagram.
The team announced that Mazepin, a current Formula 2 driver, will be at the start from 2021. However, his seat could now be in danger.
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A video uploaded to Mazepin’s Instagram page quickly whipped through social media before being removed from his personal page.
It shows Mazepin sitting in the passenger seat of a car before the camera pans to the back seat, where he reaches back and grabs the woman who is sitting on the chest in the back of the car.
The woman in the clip moves Mazepin’s hand before raising a middle finger and clapping the camera away.
Haas made a damning statement on Wednesday saying they would take internal action against the arriving driver’s antics.
“The Haas F1 team does not condone Nikita Mazepin’s behavior in the video recently posted on its social media,” the statement said.
“Furthermore, the fact that the video was posted on social media is abhorrent to the Haas F1 team.
“The matter is being handled internally and no further comments will be made at this point.”
Mazepin, 21, quickly followed the team’s testimony with one of his own, in which he apologized for his actions.
“I would like to apologize for my recent actions, both for my own inappropriate behavior and for the fact that it was posted on social media,” said Mazepin.
“I am sorry for the crime I rightly caused and for the embarrassment I caused the Haas F1 team.
“As a Formula 1 driver, I have to stick to a higher standard and I admit that I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from it. “
A week after being named the Haas team for the 2021 season, Mazepin finished the 2020 F2 season in fifth place.
Mazepin will work together with Mick Schumacher in the new Haas outfit for the next season, but his antics on the track in the last race of the season raised the eyebrows of team boss Günther Steiner.
“I saw the F2 race, he got the penalty,” Steiner told RaceFans.net.
“I think it’s part of learning and sure we cut our work out, I think I think I’m right there.
“We have to learn from it and see that these mistakes are not made.”
The last race of the Formula 1 season will take place in Abu Dhabi.
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