Nikita Mazepin was discredited in December after a video surfaced of him groping a lady uninvited. Formula 1 don't want this repeating and have therefore have reminded all 20 drivers in the premier class of motorsport aware of their responsibilities.
"I would say it is quite clear - what Mazepin did, it is not acceptable. Drivers have to be aware of their responsibilities," Stefano Domenicali, quoted by Speedweek.com, said. Haas F1 was of the same opinion and said a few weeks ago that it distanced itself from the 'appalling' behaviour.
F1 drivers receive a letter
Chase Carey's successor at Liberty Media is taking the matter very seriously. "I will speak to the 20 Formula 1 drivers about their role as ambassadors of the sport. I will make it clear that certain things cannot be joked about, they simply cannot be. It must be clear that they have an exemplary role," says the Italian.
The 55-year-old chief executive has written to all the drivers personally. "We have rarely had such a fantastic mix of great drivers in Formula 1. And we must especially rejoice at the great talent that has entered Formula 1 in recent years. We must not miss the opportunity to show them that they are more than just GP racers. They have a huge responsibility, they are the face of our sport. They need to understand the importance of their behaviour and the weight their words carry with the public," he concludes.