
Steiner "surprised" by persistent Mazepin hate
F1 News
Steiner "surprised" by persistent Mazepin hate

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has conceded he was left surprised by the persistence of the ire directed towards Nikita Mazepin during his rookie season in F1.
Russian driver Mazepin hit the headlines instantly after being handed his seat for last year when posting a video on social media at the end of 2020 where he groped a female car passenger, an act Haas at the time labelled "abhorrent".
Despite internally dealing with the situation and a public apology coming from Mazepin, the rookie was subjected to ridicule for much of his first year in F1, in stark contrast to the adoration of team-mate Mick Schumacher.
Asked by GPFans in an end of season interview how difficult the situation was to manage, Steiner replied: "I managed to stay calm.
"I talked with him about it. For him, it was clear he did something wrong, he shouldn't have done it.
"Then again, he's a young man and you need the second chance and I got over it pretty quick.
"A lot of people didn't let go, which I was surprised [about] actually because there are lots of things happening in the world and people let go pretty quick.
"They didn't let him go for a long time. I don't know why. Maybe I don't need to know.
"In the end, for sure, that wasn't a help when he started the season because there must be some distractions, especially if you are young."
Related news

Haas livery reveal - An instant classic or a forgettable flop?

Haas reveal 2023 targets after resurgent campaign

Haas unveil first F1 livery of 2023

Haas' boldest F1 looks - Launch season starts today!
Most read

Alonso: Only Hamilton has Vettel's phone number

F1 LIVE - Striking Alfa Romeo art car at the centre of charity push

Hamilton fired 'Oscars' warning as Red Bull Ford rumours intensify - GPFans F1 Recap

Bottas slates 'controlling' FIA over latest crackdown

Hamilton urged to curb ‘Oscar speech’ antics
F1 Standings

Races
-
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2023
-
Grand Prix of China 2023
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
-
Miami Grand Prix 2023
-
Pirelli Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
-
Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
-
Grand Prix of Spain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Canada 2023
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2023
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
-
Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2023
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2023
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2023
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
-
Grand Prix of Brazil 2023
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media

7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860