Haas

Mazepin accepts "full responsibility" for groping incident

GPFans Staff Tuesday 2 March 2021 10:30 Updated: 10:37

Haas rookie Nikita Mazepin has accepted "full responsibility" for his actions in the controversial groping incident late last year.

Ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a video posted on Mazepin's personal Instagram account showed the Russian driver inappropriately touching a female passenger in the back of a car.

After describing the driver's behaviour as "abhorrent", Haas declared it would deal with the matter internally, a decision that was supported by Formula 1 and the FIA.

Speaking about the incident publicly for the first time, Mazepin told ESPN: "First of all it's very important to say that my actions in December about the whole incident were incorrect.

"I do take the full responsibility for it.

"It was a very big learning experience and I can confidently say that I'm much further in my knowledge on this kind of matter than I used to be, so there's a small bit of positivity there."

The hashtag #WeSayNoToMazepin has trended whenever Haas posts content that includes imagery or mentions of the Russian.

Asked what he has done to re-educate himself in the wake of the incident, Mazepin added: "I totally understand they are correct in their feelings and that I was not correct with my actions.

"I'm not proud of it. It's important to progress."

Haas will launch its 2021 livery on Thursday with Mazepin and team-mate Mick Schumacher scheduled to face the media.

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Mazepin accepts "full responsibility" for groping incident

Mazepin accepts "full responsibility" for groping incident