F1 News

Mazepin doesn't care about Giovinazzi's criticism: "Every man for himself"

21 April 2021 at 15:48
Last update 21 April 2021 at 17:51
  • GPblog.com

Before he had even driven a single mile, Nikita Mazepin was slammed by the entirety of Formula 1 after his escapades in his private life. He hasn't taken the chance to show on track that he belongs in F1 either so the nicknames like 'Mazespin' won't disappear any time soon. At Imola the Russian was again involved in some incidents.

Everyone for himself

On the Saturday after qualifying Antonio Giovinazzi was not happy with Mazepin after he flouted the gentlemen's agreement of track position and decided to overtake all cars just like on Saturday in Bahrain. Mazepin is not aware of any wrongdoing. Speaking to Match TV he said: "All of us have a team behind us who give you instructions to follow. I just followed those instructions, although I know there are unofficial rules."

However, in his own opinion, he has a valid explanation for his action: "I crossed the start line 2 seconds before the end of the session, so if I had stayed behind him I wouldn't have been able to do a lap. It's not nice that it happens, but on the track it's everyone for themselves."

Simulator

Mazepin will be hoping for a less turbulent weekend in Portimao, as he collided with Nicholas Latifi on Sunday, although this wasn't really the Russian's mistake. However, Mazepin will not be able to test in the simulator ahead of the race in Portugal.

"At Haas we don't have a simulator, so I will have to practice at home on the simulator that all drivers have at home. I'm not a member of a youth team, so that privilege is not there for me."