Steiner says he can control Mazepin
Dec.15 - Gunther Steiner thinks he can get 2021 Haas recruit Nikita Mazepin "under control".
21-year-old Mazepin is entering F1 with an instantly-tarnished reputation, and not just because his father is a powerful Russian billionaire.
In 2016, he came under fire for punching Callum Ilott, he was slammed for dangerous driving in Bahrain recently, and there have been calls for Haas to oust him after video emerged of him allegedly 'groping' a female friend.
Told by Channel 4 that Haas has its work cut out to handle Mazepin, boss Steiner said: "We know about this with Nikita and I think I can get him under control.
"I look at his performance and as for the rest, we can help him. We just have to make sure he doesn't continue to do these things and guide him towards that."
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Guenther is liable to get himself punched by Mazepin if he tries to control him. He is a spoiled brat! I knew he wouldn't lose his seat, as he brings a lot of money to the team. Not sure I'd like to be near him on the race track
It's a difficult one as nobody except his family and inner circle actually know him. He has the talent, that is not in dispute, so he's not in F1 simply because daddy bought his seat, although it has helped for sure. His racing etiquette is certainly questionable but that can be smoothed out over time, no problem, just think of Grosjean when he was a newbie in F1. The two serious points are the only question marks hanging over him atm. His punching of Callum Ilott rightfully earned him a race ban, but as a racer myself I know full well that in the heat of battle drivers can pull questionable manoeuvres and I've had plenty of occasions over the years to confront my race rivals for such matters. He received his punishment and hopefully learnt his lesson that that sort of behaviour is unacceptable. The groping of his female friend is less serious in the context that she wasn't actually offended and defended him from the outcry. Knowing the sort of interactions that young male and females indulge in these days I think this has been blown out of all proportion based on what actually happened between the two of them. It's very important to read what SHE actually said about the incident. Basically, 'move along, nothing to see here.' In summing up, is he a spoilt brat? Almost certainly in a westernised context, but I'd rather class him as an 'enfant terrible' The Formula 1 paddock will be a good way for him to learn how not to act like a privileged idiot.
All that is very true Carl ( any relation to Will? Just me being nosey☺️ ) but did you ever actually end up punching another driver, or force one into a marker board? After the Anthoine Hubert tragedy, although an accident, you would have thought he'd think twice before driving so dangerously. I guess a young girl would take the blame for the incident, such as saying it was her that posted that video onto his page, if there's an incentive there.........? Obviously just guesswork on my behalf & I would be the first one to acknowledge that I'd been wrong, if it could be proved, which of course it can't. I guess I feel really sorry for Callum Ilott missing out on an F1 drive, again. I truly hope you're right & that being in F1 will sort his attitude out. I'm not against Mazepin because he has an Oligarch for a Father, just as I feel cross when Lance Stroll gets sniped about because his Father is a billionaire & owns a race team. Lucky them. Who wouldn't want a billionaire as a parent
Totally agree with you
Well said Carl Buxton!!