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tw sexual assault mention
i grew up watching f1 with my dad, who always tried to shield me from the fact that women are so unwelcome in this sport. i still remember asking him why there were no “girl drivers” - i was seven - and he told me there would be someday. (1/?)
i grew up watching f1 with my dad, who always tried to shield me from the fact that women are so unwelcome in this sport. i still remember asking him why there were no “girl drivers” - i was seven - and he told me there would be someday. (1/?)
as i grew older i realised just how much female drivers were looked down upon and stigmatised against. it made me feel ashamed that i enjoyed such a sport that seemingly went against everything i believed in. but i had faith things would get better someday. (2/?)
in the past few years there’s been many women making their way up the ranks. we’ve had the w series, girls on track, and a stronger push from many drivers for women to get involved and be seen through the same eyes that men in this sport are. it’s been looking up. (3/?)
for a bit i thought that someday soon other young girls sitting on the couch and watching f1, just like i did, wouldn’t have to ask the same question i did. i thought they’d have role models in the sport to look up to, so they could feel proud rather than guilty to like f1. (4/?)
i wanted to go back and see f1 someday. in fact, i dreamt of working in the sport - as an illustrator, maybe, or in PR - and i know a lot of other women shared my dream. but now, i’m afraid to come back to the paddock. i’m afraid of nikita mazepin and all he’s done. (5/?)
i’m afraid of the power he now holds in this sport, with his money. i’m afraid for every other woman who has to share the paddock with him. i’m afraid of him doing any more hurt to any other woman. and i’m afraid for the future of this sport, (6/?)
which will be built on the continued blind eye the FIA will turn to his behaviour, allowing other terrible people like him to do as they please without fear of reprocussions. i’m afraid that because of this, women will forever be too afraid to come to f1. (7/?)
by allowing nikita mazepin to come to the grid in all his carelessness and belief he is above all else, we’re going backwards. we’re leaving an undeniable effect on this sport that women will feel for decades. (8/?)
we’re actively allowing them to feel unwelcome in the face of their fright towards what he could do to them. so, to the FIA, haas, and the f1 community, i urge you to please not turn a blind eye to this fact - that this sport will never be safe for women with him in it. (9/?)
please, sign this, and stand against nikita mazepin and his actions. #WeSayNoToMazepin (10/10) https://www.change.org/p/fia-remove-nikita-mazepin-from-formula-1
