FIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi said he will look into an incident which occured between the two Haas drivers on the final lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
A furious Mick Schumacher asked his team “does he want to kill us?” after the close call between the pair as they approached the finishing line. Nikita Mazepin dodged to the right as Schumacher moved to pass him at around 300kph.Masi admitted the incident between the two drivers disputing 12th place had been overlooked at the time.
“To be fair, obviously we were looking at the front so I didn’t actually see the incident myself, so I can’t comment on it,” he said. “I’d prefer not to [comment] not having seen it.
Speaking immediately after the race, Masi said he will “have a look at it in the fresh light of day and, if necessary, I will have a chat with the team and the driver concerned.”
In a press release issued by Haas shortly after the race, team principal Guenther Steiner said they had already put the incident behind them.
“Obviously, there was a situation on the straight, that was all resolved, and we’ve cleared the air,” he said. “There was some misunderstanding, but we’re fine and all moving on from it.”
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Haas radio messages from the end of the race
While Mazepin told his race engineer Dominic Haines narrowly losing the position to his team mate “hurt”, Schumacher was clearly shocked at what had transpired. Having exchanged a few words with his race engineer Gary Gannon, the team’s chief race engineer Ayao Komatsu also interjected.
Mick Schumacher
| Schumacher | What the fuck was that, honestly! Seriously, does he want to kill us? |
| Gannon | Understood, Mick, understood. Chequered flag, chequered flag. |
| Schumacher | Wow. Wow. |
| Schumacher | Wow… |
| Gannon | Understood, Mick. Everyone is… It’s been observed. Everyone is aware. |
| Gannon | Okay, good job Mick. |
| Schumacher | I mean… Okay. |
| Gannon | Yep, yep. |
| Schumacher | Wow… |
| Komatsu | Understood, Mick, okay. |
| Schumacher | Sorry, sorry, sorry… yeah, okay, all good. |
| Gannon | Okay we can go mode slow. |
| Gannon | Okay Mick so that’s P13 behind Bottas in P12. P1 was Perez, P2 Vettel, P3 Gasly, P4 Leclerc, P5 Norris, P6 Alonso, seventh Tsunoda, eighth Sainz, ninth Ricciardo, Kimi Raikkonen in 10th, then Giovinazzi, Bottas, you, then Nikita, then Hamilton then Latifi from his penalty. And Russell retired right there at the end. |
| Schumacher | Yeah, okay. |
| Gannon | Okay Mick we’ll see you back here soon. Just remember to go to P1, wait three seconds then go P0. Good job, see you soon. |
| Schumacher | Yeah, understood. Where was Seb at the end? |
| Gannon | P2, really good run. Perez won the race. |
| Schumacher | Ah, really good. |
| Schumacher | Happy for him. |
| Gannon | Copy that. |
Nikita Mazepin
| Haines | Okay Maz that’s the chequer, that’s the chequer. |
| Mazepin | Yeah we got beaten there unfortunately. |
| Haines | Yeah you did everything you could. Good move on that restart. Tricky race. So good job, mate, good job. |
| Mazepin | That one hurts. |
| Haines | Go mode slow, mode slow. |
| Haines | Box, Nikita, box. Box, Nikita, box. When you come to a stop, go P1, wait three seconds and then P0. |
| Mazepin | Copy. |
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2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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Jere (@jerejj)
7th June 2021, 12:10
This close-call happened out of the world feed coverage, so Masi wasn’t the only one not seeing it at the time.
Nevertheless, I fully understand why Mick was upset, even if misunderstanding caused the move.
MSO
7th June 2021, 12:38
https://youtu.be/NGj2lQFdo3M
Video. Bit reckless but probably won’t result in anything
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
7th June 2021, 12:41
I didn’t think it was anything that bad TBH, We’ve certainly seen worse in the past.
It’s interesting when you go back to the 80s/90s & look at some of the defensive driving then which was just seen as accepted/normal behaviour which is stuff fans would now jump on as been dangerous/unacceptable.
Just let them race & stop this nanny baby culture.
Coventry Climax
7th June 2021, 13:36
Yep. Just shut down the radio’s when the lights go out. And maybe back on when the flag drops.
Darryn Smith (@darryn)
7th June 2021, 21:17
Daddy was the worst of all time at these moves. Nice to see the much less talented son paying for it at least.
Dave
9th June 2021, 8:44
Dear Haas: Enjoy the United States GP you noobs
regs (@regs)
7th June 2021, 13:24
Schumacher at least should be penalized for swearing
thegamer23
7th June 2021, 13:45
Tsunoda should be banned from Motorsport than XD
ian dearing
7th June 2021, 14:05
Max: Hold my beer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCY_cxr8Zdg
Dave
7th June 2021, 14:36
…if he swore in Russian just to mock Nikita XD
F1 frog (@f1frog)
7th June 2021, 17:19
I am guessing this comment is in response to that suspended deduction of 25 points from Mads Ostberg in WRC2 for swearing, @regs . A fine makes sense, as drivers should not be swearing on live television, but I don’t think it is right to deduct championship points. At least it is a suspended punishment, rather than an immediate one.
Scott (@scottdamn)
8th June 2021, 19:54
That’s a little different, in an interview I can understand, but this was while he was driving. Those messages aren’t broadcast live. F1 choose which ones they want to broadcast.
Denis (@denis1304)
7th June 2021, 21:39
Just because you can hear this radio messages doesn’t mean they were public.
Craig jones
7th June 2021, 23:44
It’s in the regs that they are public
drmouse (@drmouse)
8th June 2021, 7:59
There are a heck of a lot more drivers who should be penalised if you’re going to do that. In fact, probably most of the drivers on the grid, especially where English is not their first language…
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
8th June 2021, 11:52
@regs The FIA know better than to open that can of worms, at least in F1 where even drivers who are careful about their language most of the time sometimes slip up, and teams tend to argue about everything. Some other series ban radio swearing (I think the GT World Championship has such a rule), but part of the reason that works is because radio is much less often broadcast…
There’s a fine if drivers swear to, or at, FIA personnel (especially the stewards, who are after all volunteers), but apart from that, it’s considered Liberty and the press’s job to decide how they handle swearing.
Scott (@scottdamn)
8th June 2021, 19:50
They really don’t need to transmit his radio if they dont want swearing on tv. Let him do what he does, and if you’re truly offended, complain to F1 for broadcasting it.
Dave
14th June 2021, 9:21
Enjoy the United States GP you noob
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
7th June 2021, 16:55
I swear the commenters in this website are the biggest representation of Mazepin fans I’ve seen anywhere on the internet.
Mike
8th June 2021, 12:25
Yeah I really don’t understand all the “I’ve seen worse” comments here.
We’ve all seen worse, and it’s completely irrelevant. He did a stupid thing. He should be investigated/reprimanded as deemed appropriate by the stewards.
Dave
9th June 2021, 11:13
They’re double agents.
F1 frog (@f1frog)
7th June 2021, 17:24
I don’t think it was as bad as moves seen in the past, but the FIA are still right to examine it. Mazepin has developed a reputation for being dangerous and really shouldn’t be in Formula 1. If these kind of incidents continue, it might be time for them to ‘strongly advise’ Haas to sign a replacement driver, as they did with Yuji Ide in 2006.
bosyber (@bosyber)
7th June 2021, 17:54
@f1frog,It might have been more being surprised at the move and reaction being overcooked (think bit like Russell getting into grass w. Bottas in Imola?), but still with a teammate you are supposed to stay away from contact, and it might also show a lack of awareness.
Dave
7th June 2021, 20:20
They should do it immediately.
kpcart
7th June 2021, 23:00
Watching the onboard posted above, it wasn’t as bad as the last moment block moves Max Verstappen has done in the past.
Balue (@balue)
8th June 2021, 7:44
i believe even Raikkonen will do the scare swerve
zomtec (@zomtec)
8th June 2021, 9:20
I think the head on shot at 6:40 min shows the extend of the move an the proximity to the wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suZHkUxPzjE
Dave
8th June 2021, 18:32
Back when Michael Schumacher did the swerve, they called him erratic.
When Verstappen did that years ago, people called him a noob.
And Mazepin is a noob and Haas are noobs.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
10th June 2021, 11:02
Another erratic and unnecessary move by Mazepin. It’s only a matter of time before he really messes up big time. Haas chasing money before talent will bite them, again.