“I’m not the type of guy who kicks in the face of someone who’s on their knees”- Gunther Steiner

“I’m not the type of guy who kicks in the face of someone who’s on their knees”- Gunther Steiner on demands to sack Nikita Mazepin.

Nikita Mazepin was surrounded with a massive wave of outrage after a video posted by him on social media caught him allegedly groping a woman.

However, after concluding its classified report, Haas decided to stick with the Russian race driver, and team principal Gunther Steiner has listed his justification over the decision.

We need to work on it to give him the best opportunity to learn from this, concentrate on his racing and ensure he doesn’t do it anymore”, Steiner said according to The Sun.

“He knows that. He realises that what was done wasn’t right. I’m not the type of guy who kicks in the face of someone who’s on their knees – that’s not right”, Steiner continued.

“This is a young man who needs to grow up, and for sure we have dealt with this, and we will continue to deal with this. We are not saying that this was OK and letting him get away with it. We are educating him and will keep on educating him for his future”, Steiner concluded.

Formula 1 teams bowing in front of financial needs

While analyzing Haas’ decision to give Mazepin “another chance”, the funds brought in by him cannot be dismissed, as Mazepin’s father has invested a mammoth amount of financial sum in return of a set to his son.

And it is observable that this aid is crucial for Haas’ survival, as it risked going into administration. Therefore, it undoubtedly signals that Haas chose their survival in F1 instead of sacking a driver who has been accused of molestation.

On the other hand, even FIA, which had a moral obligation in this situation, preferred to remain quiet about it. Educating Mazepin already sounds in vain.

The young Russian race driver has been involved in multiple offences but tends to repeat his mistakes and has already turned into public enemy even before his debut in F1.

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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