Mazepin accepts "full responsibility" for groping incident

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.