Russian Formula One driver apologises for posting on Instagram an ‘abhorrent’ video of him appearing to grope a woman in back seat of a car
- Haas F1 have condemned a video posted by incoming driver Nikita Mazepin
- The Russian, 21, is set to join the American team next year after racing in F2
- He posted a video on his Instagram account in which he appeared to inappropriately touch a woman in the back seat of a car
- The woman appeared to reject his advance and raised her middle finger
- Mazepin has since removed the video and apologised for posting it
- The woman involved said she posted the video and it was intended as a joke
American Formula One team Haas says it does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin following an ‘abhorrent’ video posted to his Instagram account.
Russian driver Mazepin, 21, who will race for Haas next season, appeared to inappropriately touch a woman in the back seat of a car. The woman seemed to reject his action, raising her middle finger. Mazepin later removed the video.
However, the woman involved has said she posted the video on his account and it was intended as a joke.
Haas says it does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin, who will race for them next season, after he appeared to inappropriately touch a woman in the back seat of a car
In the Instagram stories clip, Mazepin reaches and appears to touch the woman sat in the back seat in an inappropriate way
The clip shows the woman appearing to respond by raising her middle finger at the camera
‘Haas F1 Team does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media,’ the F1 team said in a statement.
‘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 also issued a statement expressing his regret.
He said: ‘I would like to apologise for my recent actions, both in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour, and the fact that it was posted on to social media.
Mazepin, seen driving in Formula 2 this year, apologised for his actions and for posting a video on his Instagram account
‘I am sorry for the offence 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 One driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this.’
The woman in the video, called Andrea, wrote in her Instagram Stories: ‘Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that Nikita and I have been friends for a long time and nothing in the video was meant seriously.
‘We trust each other and it’s just been fun between the two of us. I posted the video as a joke in his story. I’m really sorry.
‘I give my word that he is a really good person and that he would never do anything that would hurt or humiliate me.’
Mazepin, the son of billionaire businessman Dmitry Mazepin, was only announced as an F1 driver for 2021 last week. He will race alongside Formula Two champion Mick Schumacher at Haas next year.