close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Steiner, Mazepin, Haas

Steiner "surprised" by persistent Mazepin hate

Steiner, Mazepin, Haas — Photo: © LAT Images
1 reactie

Steiner "surprised" by persistent Mazepin hate

Steiner expected ire over Mazepin's social media actions to have died down sooner

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Google Make us your Google favorite

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

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Lewis Hamilton hit with ‘brutal’ FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton hit with ‘brutal’ FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

  • 18 minutes ago
Top Sky F1 pundit absent at British Grand Prix

Top Sky F1 pundit absent at British Grand Prix

  • 1 hour ago
F1 2026 British Grand Prix starting grid with late penalties applied

F1 2026 British Grand Prix starting grid with late penalties applied

  • 1 hour ago
LEGO F1 race descends into chaos as cars get STUCK in gravel at Silverstone

LEGO F1 race descends into chaos as cars get STUCK in gravel at Silverstone

  • 2 hours ago
Christian Horner makes F1 return at British Grand Prix

Christian Horner makes F1 return at British Grand Prix

  • 3 hours ago
F1 Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions

F1 Results Today: British Grand Prix times and positions

  • 3 hours ago

Just in

16:42
Lewis Hamilton hit with ‘brutal’ FIA penalty at British Grand Prix
15:27
Top Sky F1 pundit absent at British Grand Prix
15:10
F1 2026 British Grand Prix starting grid with late penalties applied
14:52
LEGO F1 race descends into chaos as cars get STUCK in gravel at Silverstone
13:55
Christian Horner makes F1 return at British Grand Prix
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Lewis Hamilton hit with ‘brutal’ FIA penalty at British Grand Prix British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton hit with ‘brutal’ FIA penalty at British Grand Prix

18 minutes ago
Top Sky F1 pundit absent at British Grand Prix F1 British Grand Prix

Top Sky F1 pundit absent at British Grand Prix

1 hour ago
F1 2026 British Grand Prix starting grid with late penalties applied F1 British Grand Prix

F1 2026 British Grand Prix starting grid with late penalties applied

1 hour ago
LEGO F1 race descends into chaos as cars get STUCK in gravel at Silverstone British Grand Prix

LEGO F1 race descends into chaos as cars get STUCK in gravel at Silverstone

2 hours ago
Ontdek het op Google Play
x