Mazepin denies being kicked out of nightclub after Mexico F1 race

A video surfaced on social media following last weekend’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez that appeared to show Mazepin rowing with security in a nightclub. 

The Russian moved to clarify the incident ahead of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil when he faced the media. 

“I think the situation from my side is really clear,” Mazepin said. “Definitely nobody was kicked out. 

“I was upset because one of my engineers was leaving, so I invited everybody from the team to see me and one of the members wasn’t let in unfortunately. 

“I cleared it up, it took about three-to-four minutes, and everyone was in and actually it was a very good party. So we stayed for a good few hours.”

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said he was “made aware” of the video but stressed Mazepin was not involved in a fight. 

“I think it was more like an argument with one of the security guys than a fight because a fight, normally when we fight in South Tyrol it looks different,” Steiner said. 

“So this was more like a verbal argument about something. I haven’t spoke with him yet because I haven’t seen him but I think this was more like he couldn’t get access somewhere and just tried to make his point.”

It is not the first time Mazepin has found himself hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons during his career. 

The 22-year-old was banned from a Formula 3 race for punching rival Callum Ilott in 2016. Shortly before his F1 debut, Mazepin was filmed groping a woman in a car, for which he apologised. 

Steiner admitted Mazepin’s bad boy reputation has made him a target on social media. 

“It’s like first of all, everything what he’s done, whoever does it, it’s immediately filmed from somebody,” Steiner added. 

“Nikita, I think he has got a reputation and it’s even played up I would say. So it isn’t made any easier for him.”