Formula 1 and the FIA have issued a joint-statement supporting Haas in its respon🃏se to Nikita Mazepin’s “inappropriate” behaviour in a video posted on social media earlier this week.

A video emerged on Wednesday that was briefly uploaded to Mazpin’s Instagram account which showed him groping a woman’s breast in the back of a car.💯 The video was quickly deleted from the account bu🎀t resurfaced when it was widely shared on Twitter.

It prompted Haas to release a statꦕement that described its new 2021 signing’s behaviour and the video's publication on social media as “abhorrent”, adding🔥 it would deal with the matter internally.

Mazepin subsequently issued an apology, while the woman tagged in the video insisted in a separate statement on social media that she posted the video to Mazepin’s account as “an internal🧸 joke” as she moved to defend the Russian’s actions.

Ahead of the sea𓂃son-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on Thursday, F1 and governing body the FIA said in a statement: “We strongly support the Haas F1 Team in its response to the recent inapprop൩riate actions of its driver, Nikita Mazepin.

“Mazepin has issued a public apology for his poor conduct and this matter will continue to be dealt with internally by the Haas F1 Team. The ethical principles and diverse and inclusive cult♛ure of our sport are of the utmosꦅt importance to the FIA and Formula 1.”

Mazepin finished fifth in the 2020 Formula 2 championship and will graduate to F1 next year alongside F2 champion Mick Schumacher having been signed up by the American tea🔴m for 𝓡2021.