Haas F1 has Nikita Mazepin in its Formula 1 driver line-up for 2021

In a tweet on Wednesday morning, the Haas F1 team confirmed its driver line-up for Formula 1 in 2021 and held out Nikita Mazepin after controversy earlier this month.

“The Haas F1 Team would like to reaffirm that Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will form their driver line-up for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. According to the team’s previous statement on Nikita Mazepin’s actions (December 9), this matter has now been dealt with internally and no further comment is allowed. “

The team publicly punished Mazepin two weeks ago after posting a “heinous” since-deleted video of apparent sexual harassment on his Instagram. In the video, which was briefly posted in the story section of Mazepin’s social media account, a woman driving in the back seat of a car is being fondled in the chest area by someone reaching out from the passenger seat. The woman replies with an obscene gesture.

The team said it was dealing internally with the matter and had not received any further comment as of Wednesday.

This cast doubt on the status of Mazepin, who was hired along with F2 champion Mick Schumacher for the Haas F1 in 2021.

A change in the wording of the social media biographies of Mazepin and Pietro Fittipaldi, who replaced injured Haas rider Romain Grosjean in the final two races of the 2020 season, suggested that Fittipaldi could replace Mazepin next season.

However, Wednesday’s statement means that Mazepin, who signed a multi-year deal with Haas F1, will start racing for the team next season.

Mazepin drove in Formula 2 last season. He has F1 experience in a test role at Force India from 2016 to 2018. He had a similar role at Mercedes in 2019.

Mazepin is the son of Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian billionaire and major shareholder in a chemical company who has been linked with purchases into other F1 teams such as Force India and Williams.

Team Statement: pic.twitter.com/hRpoTAaanM

– Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) December 23, 2020