Tuesday, June 8th 2021
“Does he want to kill us?”
Things could get serious for Mazepin now
The criticism of Formula 1 rookie Nikita Mazepin continues: With his tough maneuver against his own teammate, the Russian caused a real shock. Now race director Michael Masi also wants to look at the action again – punishment not excluded.
Mick Schumacher has seldom been seen to be so angry: “Does he want to kill us?” He raged over the radio after the race in Baku. The reason: During the overtaking maneuver against his team-mate Mazepin at over 300 km / h, the Russian twitched and risked a crash. Schumacher was beside himself – and his uncle and ex-racing driver Ralf Schumacher rumbled: “That can be life-threatening.”
Now race director Michael Masi also wants to take a closer look at the scene. “To be honest, we paid particular attention to the front field, so I didn’t even see the maneuver myself. So I can’t comment on that. I’ll look at it and, if necessary, I’ll go with the driver and the team speak.”
Whether Masi will pronounce a penalty and in what severity is completely open – theoretically, a race suspension would even be conceivable. That last happened in 2012, when Romain Grosjean was banned from a race after a mass crash in Spa.
Mazepin “earned” a reputation for a ruffian
It was by far not the first time that Mazepin made a negative impression in Formula 1. On the contrary, the young Russian, who is desperately fighting at least to catch up with his team-mate Schumacher at the end of the field, has earned a remarkably bad reputation in record time. In qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, the youngster pushed past Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi and blocked his attempt to set a fast lap. “What the hell is he doing?” An angry Giovinazzi radioed to the pits. Sergio Perez grumbled when Mazepin almost drove the Red Bull into the parade while lapping it at the race in Portugal.
Nicolas Latifi also has a special connection with the rookie. In qualifying in Barcelona, the Williams driver blocked Mazepin on a fast lap. And Latifi knew he was going to get revenge: “He’s probably going to block me. Yep, he blocked me. Of course. From that idiot. I didn’t do it on purpose. He’s a solid post. This guy’s a bloody idiot, me.” did not see him! “
Ralf Schumacher demands punishment
The Russian already has a special reputation in the field of drivers. “He will never change,” said Charles Leclerc when he was blocked by the Haas Mazepins on a fast lap in Spain. Strong statements about a driver who has barely sniffed royal class air. Qualifying again in Spain, and again Mazepin heats up people. This time it’s Lando Norris (McLaren): “He screwed up my qualification today. It was just a man who wasn’t paying attention.”
And Norris certainly does not have this opinion exclusively. Esteban Ocon summed it up in an interview with Canal Plus: “I take care 200 percent more with Mazepin than with any other driver. Am I afraid of him? Yes, yes!”, Said the Alpine driver. As has been seen in Baku, and rightly so!
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher calls for consequences for Mazepin’s Baku maneuver: “Honestly! What Nikita is doing there is just unbelievably dangerous. Something like that at over 300 km / h is an absolute no-go and should be punished,” he complained Instagram. Perhaps a punishment would be wholesome. So far, the Russian, whose father finances the Haas team, has come without significant punishments due to his turbulent debut season.
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