Halo

#We Say No To Mazepin

*My friend Stella Hamilton wrote this article that's under review for publishing. Please share your opinions and share it. It's also on her Tumblr at Stella-N-Hamilton.

There is an old saying, "Money can't buy happiness." It's true money, can't buy genuine feelings, but it can buy someone one of the most exclusive spots in one of the most exclusive sports in the world, Formula One. This is on top of committing sexual assault. Yes, it is the age-old story of a man with money, buying his way out of his mess that he created.

In the world of Formula One, there is a term called pay drivers. These drivers come from an influential family, who pay for them to drive with certain teams or greatly finance their already expensive careers starting at young ages. Sure, what sport doesn't have parents financing their careers. Is it fair to others who aren't as wealthy? No, but they're not committing a crime by doing so. Where it does become tricky is when you have a driver, groping a woman and sending fan inappropriate messages, yet no public disciplinary actions are taken.

This tale becomes true when videos of a 21-year-old Russian rookie driver, Nikita Mazepin came out of him groping a women's breast while in a car. Later, messages surfaced of Mazepin sending inappropriate messages to fans. When fans first started to stir at the disturbing videos, Mazepin stated the girl and him were close friends. Close friends or not, grouping a women's breast without consent, is something that should be unacceptable in this day and age no matter your status.

When asked about the video, The Hass F1 team that signed Mazepin commented, "Haas F1 Team does not condone the behavior of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media," it said. "Additionally, the very fact that the video was posted on social media is also abhorrent to Haas F1 Team. The matter is being dealt with internally." The matter is being dealt with internally. This might not raise any alarms, till you take a closer look at the punishments other drivers had received over the past seasons. When Seven-Time World Champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton wore a shirt saying, "Arrest the Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor" in solidarity while taking a knee, he nearly got punished by the FIA, the governing body for Formula One. That was of course done very publicly and not dealt with internally. In 2018 Red Bull Racing driver, Max Verstappen pushed fellow driver Esteban Ocon after they collided on the track, at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He was then given community service as a result of his actions.

Those are only some of the few incidences of drivers being penalized for acts that could never measure up to sexually assaulting a woman. It is well known that of all twenty drivers on the grid, every single one of them is a man. Has there been one call to justice? No, it has been up to the younger fans of Formula One to raise more attention to the blatant misogyny that this incident has revealed.

You may be asking why hasn't he been fired, bigger actions are taken, or anything at all. Many fans have concluded it is because of the hefty amount of wealth, Mazepin's father is bringing to the team. In 2015 Forbes claimed Dmitry Mazepin was worth 1.5 Billion dollars. With that large sum of money, Mazepin brings what the low-level Hass F1 team needs the most. Is it so crazy for fans to conclude that Haas is keeping Mazepin there for the money?

The Haas F1 team ranks second to last out of the ten teams, leaving them at the bottom of the pack. Money is one of the main factors that makes a Formula One team successful. Understandably, a low-level team would want to succeed, but the way Mazepin was handled shows just how far the team is willing to go.

Many drivers are vocal about different problems that they hold at a great level of importance. For example, British driver Lando Norris is passionate about mental health while Sir Lewis Hamilton is passionate about social justice and climate change. Other drivers have been known to keep their opinions silent, which is completely within their rights. Now would be the time for the drivers to use their influence of the sport to speak about equality and sexual assault. It also brings to question, if there was a female driver would there be more of an uproar about Mazepin's actions or would it still be up to the young fans to voice their despair.

As for fellow teammate, Mick Schumacher who also signed for Haas for the 2021 season has not voiced his opinions publically, but that can be expected. After winning the Formula 2 Championship, Schumacher signed to join the F1 team in late 2020 around the same time the video came out. As a rookie, trying to navigate the drastic change of joining F1 it's understandable Schumacher wants to focus on driving. That leaves it up to the young fans who are doing everything in their power from writing letters to the FIA to team Principals to try and raise more awareness of the issue here.

Formula One is spreading the message that as long as you have the money, you have a place no matter your actions. With the Me Too movement sweeping across the world and the "We Race as One" motto of Formula, they still are not living up to the basic values of society. It is clear the real champions of the season are the young fans speaking up with their own motto, "We Say No to Mazepin" and making it clear that they will not support or tolerate Formula One in till appropriate actions are taken.