Why there must be no place in Formula 1 for rookie driver Nikita Mazepin. This story was initially posted to my personal blog. For extra tales like this, and others please head on over and browse extra!
As a father to 2 ladies, it’s comforting realizing that once they ask me if they are often one thing once they develop up, I can confidently inform them “sure they will”. My center daughter just lately got here to me asking if she will go karting, which being a motorsports fanatic myself made me excited that I can (finally, she’s not QUITE sufficiently old) share this expertise along with her. I definitely suppose in my lifetime we’ll once more see a feminine driver compete in Formula 1 in a driving function (not only a take a look at or reserve driver). The query although is, will they really feel welcomed and secure? I ask this, due to latest occasions inside Formula 1 across the habits of Haas driver, Nikita Mazepin. Identified in F1 circles as a “pay driver” his popularity definitely hasn’t been helped by a few of his on and off-track antics. However nothing will come to outline him as a lot because the Instagram controversy just lately that ought to have, however sadly didn’t derail his future F1 profession.
About two weeks after being signed to Haas, Mazepin shared a video of himself to his Instagram tales which confirmed him reaching into the again seat of a automobile he was using in and groping a visibly intoxicated girl. Condemnation of this was fast, and harsh forcing Haas to problem a response that they’d “deal with the scenario internally and shortly”. Sadly, that I’m even writing which means that in the long run, Mazepin saved his seat and can be driving on the pinnacle of motorsport subsequent 12 months and any punishment from Haas was a slap on the wrist. However why?
Like anything in our world right now, cash is king, Formula 1 being no exception. Nikita is the son of Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian billionaire footing the invoice for his son in motorsport. With out his dad’s cash, Nikita wouldn’t have a seat in motorsport, his finishes in decrease classes falling into the mediocre to backside of the rung territory. However when you’ve got one thing many of those groups desperately want, Haas being no exception right here, you end up transferring up the motorsports ranks together with actually proficient drivers like Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Callum Ilott. That’s to not say that each one pay drivers are dangerous, in spite of everything Niki Lauda was at one level a pay driver. That stated, most of the time your common pay-driver is nearer in ability to Pastor Maldonado than Niki.
All through the MeToo motion, we’ve seen quite a lot of individuals and organizations fail the victims of sexual harassment and assault. Universities like Penn State and Baylor, judges like Aaron Persky and now Haas in motorsport. About all they did although was launch a press release within the fast aftermath of the incident;
“Haas F1 Staff doesn’t condone the habits of Nikita Mazepin within the video just lately posted on his social media. Moreover, the actual fact the video was posted on social media can be abhorrent to Haas F1 Staff. The matter is being handled internally and no additional remark shall be made at the moment.”
Effectively, as we all know now, Haas didn’t do something about it, so it was probably handled “internally” with a “hey we like your dad’s cash, we don’t like dangerous press so please maintain your nostril out of hassle”. I received’t lie and say I don’t perceive Haas’ resolution right here, I simply don’t prefer it. Haas’ financial struggles as a staff are definitely well-known. To remain within the sport, they want the cash, so for them its a straightforward one to place enterprise earlier than their rules, and don’t get me fallacious, that’s what it’s. It probably doesn’t damage that the person offering all this cash is a identified litigious ass. However Haas definitely isn’t alone on this, loads of different layers of management are condoning this motion by way of their inaction.
In all chance, the typical individual probably thinks of Ferrari once they hear the title Formula1. Haas is, by way of their relationship with Ferrari a de facto junior staff to Ferrari. Since becoming a member of the grid in 2016, they’ve shared an in depth technical relationship with Ferrari, culminating within the standing up of a technical heart in Maranello upfront of the upcoming 2021 season. Whereas Ferrari doesn’t straight obtain funding from Mazepin, they’re definitely receiving oblique help by way of this working relationship with Haas. Being linked by way of partnership, Ferrari was in an ideal {position} to leverage their energy to compel Haas to make a change, they didn’t. Ferrari runs the Ferrari Drivers Academy, which at present offers Haas it with its different driver, Mick Schumacher (sure, of THAT Schumacher household). One of many different names hooked up to Haas (and Alfa Romeo) earlier than they signed Mazepin was Callum Ilott, one other Driver Academy driver. Having two of their drivers as an alternative of only one in F1 is clearly a profit for them. Given their relationship with Haas, its not out of the realm of chance that they might have pushed tougher on this. For no matter motive although, they’ve determined to not become involved and are and can be linked to all this by affiliation.
When it comes to s**t rolling uphill, we now have Formula 1, and its sanctioning physique itself, the FIA. From the outset, their joint assertion on the matter was that it was an inside Haas matter;
“We strongly assist the Haas F1 Staff in its response to the latest inappropriate actions of its driver, Nikita Mazepin, ”the assertion learn; “Mazepin has issued a public apology for his poor conduct and this matter will proceed to be handled internally by the Haas F1 Staff. The moral rules and numerous and inclusive tradition of our sport are of the utmost significance to the FIA and Formula 1.”
I don’t even thoughts F1 and the FIA’s preliminary stance, however as soon as Haas refused to cope with it, it WAS on them to behave and do one thing concerning the scenario. Contemplating each organizations have initiatives to get extra ladies and ladies concerned in motorsports in any respect ranges, this to me is one hell of a missed alternative to ship the message that this received’t be tolerated.
After all, we now have the person, or moderately males on the heart of this, Nikita and Dmitry Mazepin. Given Dimitry’s billionaire {status}, its apparent they reside in a distinct class (and so they comprehend it) than the remainder of us. Their {status} means they will purchase their approach out of issues like this. Their supporters trot out the identical typical tropes we heard when the Donald Trump Entry Hollywood tapes broke; “boys can be boys”. Excuse my French, however that’s a load of shit. Till we actually maintain males like this accountable, no matter how a lot cash we now have in our financial institution accounts then these issues will persist. Motorsports will proceed to be a “wealthy boys membership” regardless of the perfect efforts of organizing our bodies to diversify their ranks.
As the daddy of a son, I will surely hope I’m elevating him to know that this isn’t the way in which to deal with the ladies in his life. As father’s, we wish nothing however the perfect for our youngsters, I’m positive Dmitry isn’t any totally different. The very best for our youngsters nonetheless can’t come on the expense of others. As I’ve talked about although, this definitely isn’t Nikita’s first foray into horrible habits, he’s bought a protracted historical past of it on, and off observe particulars of which might be discovered here, here and here. If his father WERE fascinated by actually instructing him proper from fallacious, I wouldn’t be penning this. No, a middling profession in motorsport comes earlier than being an honest human being.
As an nearly 20-year fan of Formula 1, it hurts to have to put in writing this. The game has definitely had its justifiable share of controversies over time, however given the instances this one is totally different. My hope is, as an alternative of boycotting races (if followers are allowed again in in 2021) is those that present up make it identified very loudly that Nikita isn’t welcome. If the groups received’t, and the sanctioning our bodies received’t, its on us as followers to face as much as this habits. Sadly, as we’ve seen all too typically just lately these conditions aren’t the exception, they’re the norm. Penn State, Michigan State, Baylor, Brock Turner, Donald Trump, the record goes on, and on, and on. Till we begin holding males accountable for his or her horrible habits, whereas ladies will have the ability to succeed on the highest types of motorsport, they received’t really feel welcome and absolutely equal. Take a stand, demand higher, and do one thing about it.
