Haas has this morning issued a brief statement confirming Nikita Mazepin's future with the American outfit.

"Haas F1 Team would like to reaffirm that Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will form its driver line-up for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship," it read. "As per the team's previous statement regarding the actions of Nikita Mazepin (December 9) – this matter has now been dealt with internally and no further comment shall be made."

According to some sections of the media there was doubt over Mazepin's future with the team following a post to his social media account last month which appeared to show him groping a woman.

In the wake of the post, which was subsequently removed and which the American team itself described as "abhorrent", fans took to social media insisting that Haas drop the Russian driver.

Haas announced that it would investigate the matter internally, which it claims to have done, however the decision not to give any further insight, far less details of any punishment, is certain to cause further comment from fans who claim that Mazepin's actions conflict with the sport's drive to promote various social issues.

However, fans weren't only angered by the post that Haas investigated, pointing to the incidents in the final rounds of the F2 championship that saw the Russian hit with two penalties and various other transgressions including threatening to 'out' an F1 driver.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by RRZX-14, 31/12/2020 21:24

"I guess bad publicity is better than no publicity."

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2. Posted by flyinglap, 24/12/2020 17:16

"Regarding the reaction to the Mazepin "incident', a storm in a teacup; much ado about nothing, Karens all around us. One could only blame Mazepin for his poor taste and poor judgement in briefly rendering public what was supposed to be a private moment with his (a) girlfriend, but obviously everybody is entitled to their opinion about that.

Regarding the widespread aversion to (certain) more or less rich fathers of drivers, and consequently to (certain) drivers, it would be usefeful for all to remember that motor racing is by definition an expensive sport. Therefore, it has always been and it will always be the preserve of the affluent more or less (even if someone likes to pretend that they came up from the getto when in fact they had all their racing future secured in advance since a tender age, notwithstanding their application and talent - which are not exclusive qualities).

Karting is very expensive to begin with, and all the drivers from the least successful to the most successful have started as more or less privileged kids by definition, and they continue to race as privileged men (or women) regardless of the racing category. Obviously, there are different levels of affluence in society, and it is indeed the young drivers themselves as well as their families that seem to despise whoever has superior means at their disposal, be it a private jet or a helicopter instead of a mere SUV or caravan, a frontline team instead of a backmarker team etc, often with the complicity of the press. As for the race teams, from karting to Formula 1, they always love to sign up the kids with the richest and/or best connected parents because they are precisely those that ensure a smooth sailing and a steady business. There is no need to be emotional about it, that is the way it is; whoever can afford to race in one way or another goes racing, while everybody else can simply enjoy watching this extraordinary sport of ours. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!"

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3. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 24/12/2020 11:39

"Firstly let me say that I am not condoning anyone’s actions or criticising anyone’s comments.

It would be useful to remember that we all live in a world that has many cultures, beliefs and perceptions of acceptable behaviour; it is very easy to be moralistic and to judge others. Just because someone may hold a different set of values to yourself it does not mean that they are wrong, they are just different; one person’s delicacy is another person’s pet.

Social media is anything but. Images can be cropped and edited, words can be taken out of context and portrayed to give a different meaning; the only thing you can be certain of in printed media is the date, everything else is someone’s interpretation of what they saw or heard. My recommendation is to be sceptical, reading between the lines and looking at the bigger picture is a double act worth mastering, think for yourselves and do not follow the crowd as they are easily led.

To those who follow the Christian faith, Merry Christmas.

"

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4. Posted by kenji, 24/12/2020 10:37

"@ C5 there's a world of difference [ legality ] between tax 'avoidance' and tax 'evasion'. Avoidance is a legal right, evasion is a whole different ball game. "

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5. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 24/12/2020 9:13

"I would hope that F1 as a whole keeps an eye on his behaviour on track - his history there is more of concern than his (latest) transgression"

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6. Posted by C5, 24/12/2020 7:08

"@kenji, well I for one haven't. I fail to see how tax evasion is funny?"

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7. Posted by kenji, 24/12/2020 0:57

"@ Chickenfarmer.F1....Gene Haas served 16 months for upsetting the IRC with tax evasion charges. He also paid a US$70 million fine. Hands up all those who haven't at any time told a few 'porkies' when filing a tax return? I can't see too many hands waving around ..hahaha."

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8. Posted by kenji, 24/12/2020 0:45

"Looking at the comments rating here is an interesting exercise. Seems as though the story changes daily! All that aside, the faux outrage exhibited is a prime example of the power of the internet to overide what the actual facts are...if they can possibly be made known.

I now read that 'she' posted the video, not Mazepin. That the full frame video shows her to be 'laughing' at the time of the so called assault? True or false ? If this is true then what does that say ? IMO then, as a minority poster here, the entire episode proves the point that public opinion can be manipulated far too easily when the facts are unknown, and the new righteous seize the opportunity for on line promotion of their cancel culture. "

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9. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 23/12/2020 19:31

"@C5 - IIRC Gene Haas did time in prison himself. "

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10. Posted by C5, 23/12/2020 17:06

"Haas sure seem to have a way too attract extraordinary sleazy people in an already very sleazy environment that is F1. Not talking only the younger Mazepin here but at least a much the elder. High likelihood of another Rich scandal, only these guys actually do have a yachtload of money so the entertainment value will probably be a lot less."

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11. Posted by Wokingchap, 23/12/2020 16:57

"A thoroughly distasteful character but unfortunately we've got to put up with him for now."

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12. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 23/12/2020 16:42

"@Superbird70 - perhaps, though if he turns out to be as good in F1 as, say Max, much will be forgotten. If he's more like Stroll, i.e. just another billionaire's kid getting a drive far more on daddy's money than skill, then he will never drive for another team, unless daddy buys another team."

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13. Posted by elsiebc, 23/12/2020 15:00

"When the aggrieved person isn't aggrieved in the least but the social justice warriors see an opportunity to stroke their egos"

Mazepin remains at Haas

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