//Trigger Warning: The following story talks about sexual assault. If sexual violence, sexual assault, or violence may be upsetting to you, please read on with caution.
U.S. National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 1-800-656-4673
UK Sexual Assault Supportline: 01708 765200 //
Haas F1 Team
On December 1st, 2020 Formula 1 and the Haas F1 team announced that they would be signing Russian Formula 2 driver, Nikita Mazepin, to fill one of the empty seats in their 2021 lineup. This was the first time that I had heard Nikita Mazepin’s name, yet it soon became a name I couldn’t shake. Formula 2 broadcasts are not as accessible as other types of motorsport in the United States so while I have a general understanding of what it is and I might be familiar with a few names, I certainly had no familiarity with who Mazepin was at the time.
Desperate for a distraction from my first week of university finals, I did what any good American does to begin research: I typed his name into Wikipedia. I’ve always been more interested in the more social side of motorsport so I breezed past his accomplishments in the car and went straight to the “Personal life” section. Outside of being the son of a billionaire, I was surprised to learn that one of his more notable personal claims to fame was an altercation with a fellow F3 driver, Callum Illott. Following an on-track incident between the two drivers, eyewitnesses reported that after a heated exchange, Mazepin struck Illott in the face twice, leaving him with noticeable injuries including a black eye and a swollen jaw. His actions resulted in a one-race ban from competing in the F3 championship.
The way the FIA handled the incident can be, and still is, debated to this day. I’ll admit that I really don’t have any perspective on how harsh FIA penalties can and should be. However, I do know that if an incident similar to this had happened on a random street in the United States, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the perpetrator to be arrested for assault and even face jail time. Mazepin’s actions on the track that day were alarming, to say the least, but they also served to be an ignored red flag for future offenses.
Just eight days following the announcement of his Haas seat, Mazepin posted a video on his Instagram account of him reaching into the back of a car and grabbing a woman’s breast. The woman clearly removes his hand from her breast and flips her middle finger towards the camera. The post was quickly deleted, but not quick enough for it to fly under the social media radar. Most responses were negative, including my own. To be completely honest, when I opened Twitter the morning of December 10th, repulsed would be an understatement to describe my reaction. Really, it felt like a punch in the gut. I had just finished a semester-long research project about the lack of women in the top tiers of motorsport, and I was honestly feeling some hope for my own future as a journalist or press officer in F1. That post served as a cruel, real-life reminder of where women historically stand in F1 media, as decorations and playthings for male drivers and fans.
Haas quickly issued a statement, calling Mazepin’s actions “abhorrent” and assuring the community that the situation would be dealt with internally. Abhorrent, a word that I admit I had to google, means “inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant” according to the Oxford Dictionary. Mazepin himself has since issued an apology, citing that he was sorry for offending anyone and embarrassing his team. The woman, later identified as Andrea D’IVal, quickly issued a statement that said the pair were close friends and the video was simply a joke between friends.
But that’s not where the story ends.
Disgust would be an understatement as to how I feel about this situation. While I understand that public image is of utmost importance at Haas F1, the fact that the team has been silent about the situation since their statement has frankly added to my disgust and embarrassment. As a young American woman who aspires to work in Formula 1, there has been nothing more disappointing than watching how the only American team in F1 have actively chosen silence. While some Twitter users have been quick to defend Mazepin, let's call his actions in that video what they are: sexual assault.
The American Office on Women’s Health describes sexual assault as “any type of sexual activity or contact that you do not consent to”. Obviously, the only people who can truly know what happened as well as the true nature of the pair’s relationship were in that car. However, the victim’s nonverbal reactions, physically removing his hand and flipping off the camera, hint at the fact that the groping was not consensual. Even between friends, this is assault and should be treated as the serious offense that it is.
Formula 1 drivers serve as more than just athletes, they are seen as role models and heroes. Their actions and what they choose to display on public social media accounts set the precedence of what is acceptable and what actions are appropriate for their young impressionable audience to imitate. They set an example. Allowing Mazepin to keep his seat at Haas for 2021 is perpetuating a culture of sexual assault that all future generations will be impacted by.
In addition to all of this, it’s important to note that in the apology Mazepin issued, he never apologized to the woman he assaulted. He apologized for offending fans, and causing embarrassment to Haas. This looks more like an attempt to save his career rather than acknowledge that he did something wrong.
Andrea D’IVal has since come out and hinted that she was more hurt by the situation than her original statement portrayed her to be. Responding to an Instagram question asking her what advice she would give to her younger self, Andrea said that she would not allow herself to be taken advantage of again and would not allow herself to get drunk in the presence of people she didn’t trust. I’d like to reiterate that Andrea, intoxicated or not, is a victim not just of an assault, but a victim of a huge lack of justice from the F1 fraternity.
Fans continue to call for Mazepin’s removal from F1 with #WeSayNoToMazepin on Twitter. More of Mazepin’s past distasteful actions have come to light. While I won’t go into detail about these actions, they range from criticism about being a pay to play driver to threats to “out” current William’s F1 driver George Russel. If you’re interested, you can find more information in FormulaAmelia’s most recent blog post. She goes into it with more detail and grace than I ever could.
Haas and the FIA have just about 90 days to decide if Nikita Mazepin will line up on the grid in a Formula 1 car for the 2021 Australian Grand Prix. They will either do what’s right and give up the seat to a more deserving and talented driver, or they will continue to perpetuate a culture that allows sexual assault to exist without punishment.