The first race of the 2021 Formula 1 season in Bahrain kept all these promises from the very first corner, when Nikita Mazepin finished his race in the safety barriers, opposite to where Romain Grosjean was. escaped the flames unscathed a few months earlier.
A first uncontrolled road trip that did not fail to react on social networks.
The Russian pilot is already nicknamed "Mazepipe" or "Nazepin", the British were not lacking in imagination to give him the nickname "Mazespin" ("spin" meaning spin).
When you take off the driving aids for the first time on # F12020pic.twitter.com / xRCJKHWdqC
- Fédé de la Lose (@FFLose) March 29, 2021
His detractors did not hesitate to compare him to Romain Grosjean, former driver of the Haas team, known for not finishing the races according to them.
“It was totally my fault, it's very disappointing, the main person concerned was justified following his accident.
I am very sorry for the team who deserved much better.
I got to the second corner and I really tried to avoid Mick Schumacher […] the tires didn't hold up.
They were cold and I went on the vibrator, I accelerated a little too much and I started spinning. ”
Controversy, "daddy's boy", not very flamboyant results
It must be said that the driver of the Haas team is not unanimous in the eyes of the general public.
First of all because he enjoys an image of "daddy's boy", given that his father is the new main sponsor of the American team in which he races.
In a context where money is the main engine of this sport, Dmitry Mazepin, the boss of Uralkali, world leader in potash, represents a major asset in the survival of the Haas team in the competition.
The legitimacy of the Mazepin son could then be found in his results, but this is not a great success either.
He finished his 2020 year in F2 in fifth place and has no line to his young career.
LAP 1/56
Safety Car is out after Mazepin hits the barriers on the opening lap!
He is out of the car and unharmed # BahrainGP # F1pic.twitter.com / Q4MJILmXct
- Formula 1 (@ F1) March 28, 2021
Nikita Mazepin's image also took a hit even before that first turn in Bahrain.
The young driver from the Haas team found himself at the heart of a controversy in the middle of December when he posted a video on his networks where we see the 22-year-old rider touching his chest. 'a woman without her consent in a video.
He apologized a few hours later but a petition had already been circulated asking for his F1 wheel to be withdrawn, signed by more than 50,000 people.
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