Nikita Mazepin was criticised by ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle for making too many mistakes at Imola.
The Russian racing driver, who is driving for the Haas F1 Team this season, made several mistakes over the course of the three practice sessions and qualifying.
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Following Mazepin making yet another mistake in the first segment of qualifying for the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Brundle questioned why he was making so many mistakes at the circuit.
“The corners are in the same place every lap,” Brundle said after Mazepin ran wide at the Villeneuve Chicane.
Other drives struggled at the unforgiving Imola circuit, especially in the slippery and changing conditions on Sunday.
Mazepin also attracted criticism for his off-track conduct, with two Brazilian F1 commentators bashing him for being rude to a journalist in a post-qualifying interview when he was asked about the incident between him and Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
“This shows who he really is. This shows that a driver who pays his way in, has no boss, no one to call him out and unfortunately people like this have difficulties to learn and evolve,” the lead commentator said.
“He’s going to last [in Formula One] as long as his father wants to put money in,” the co-commentator added.
“If F1 allows this, the bare minimum is that the driver has respect.”
In the race, Mazepin made contact with Nicholas Latifi but wasn’t adjudged to be at fault and as such wasn’t penalised.
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