Nikita Mazepin has called out Formula 1 for being “two-faced” when it comes to criticism for impeding in qualifying.
The Russian rookie was slammed after ruining the final Q1 laps of multiple drivers over the first four races, this after also breaking a gentleman’s agreement when it comes to queueing to start a flying lap before the final corner.
His most notable example of that came in Bahrain when he overtook several cars waiting for a gap only to then spin under braking for Turn 1, causing Esteban Ocon and Sebastian Vettel to be knocked out.
Last weekend in Austria though it was the four-time world champion who was penalised three grid positions for blocking Fernando Alonso in Q2, while other drivers were not punished despite not following that same gentleman’s agreement.
And unsurprisingly, Mazepin wasn’t too pleased by the varying reactions.
“Everyone’s made a big deal out of it at a point where I didn’t know very much about the qualifying itself in Formula 1,” he said via The Race.
“It [Bahrain] was my first ever one and also I have never raced in a category where that was applied or discussed.
“As a newcomer into Formula 1, that does not get discussed in a drivers’ briefing or in any other meeting with drivers included.
“But I just think that F1 is a very two-faced world, and if you’ve got a big name under you with loads of championships on your belt, your actions are less criticised than if you don’t.”
Also Read:
- Haas confirm Mazepin weighed down by heavier car vs. Schumacher
- Haas defend Mazepin for latest ‘gentleman’s agreement’ breach in Imola qualifying
On the incident in Austria, Mazepin continued: “In the drivers’ briefing our race director has made new rules, saying that you have to make your track position in Turn 8 and you’re not allowed to back up in Turn 9 and 10, which means that you have to keep up the speed into those two corners.
“What I’ve seen happened in Q2, and the incident [between Alonso and Vettel], is the exact opposite.
“Every driver is human, they can get caught out and they’ve been caught out.
“Everyone just needs to apply the same rules to each other and then it will be a happy place.”
Of course, Mazepin has rarely been away from controversy since the moment it was announced he would be joining Haas in 2021.
Whether it be the fallout from the offensive social media video in Bahrain, his ‘pay driver’ status or the ‘MazeSpin’ nickname for his spins at early races.
And Haas chief Guenther Steiner continues to believe F1 is playing off that image.
“It’s a battle that we will never win,” he said. “In the end Formula 1 is an entertaining sport, and people love to see happiness and angriness at the same time.
“They like that spectrum of emotions and I think F1’s doing a great job of delivering that.
“So I don’t think we’re going to be able to improve that, unfortunately.”