Formula One and the world’s governing body for motor sports FIA have backed the racing team Haas’s condemnation of a video of 2021 Russian driver Nikita Mazepin. 

The video, which was uploaded to Mazepin’s Instagram account on Wednesday, shows the driver touching a woman’s chest in the back seat of a car, according to an ESPN report. 

The video was taken down a short while later but it was captured by users and widely shared across social media platforms. 

Haas came down heavily on Mazepin and the video, calling it “abhorrent” while also confirming they will conduct an internal investigation into the matter. 

The 21-year-old Russian driver later issued an apology, saying he will conduct himself in a “higher standard as a Formula One driver”. 

The woman in the video also responded to the incident, posting on her Instagram account the message, “I posted this video on his story as an internal joke. I am truly sorry. I can give you my word he’s a really good person and he would never do anything to hurt me or humiliate me.”

Formula One and FIA released a joint-statement on Thursday, in which they backed Haas teams response. 

“We strongly support the Haas F1 Team in its response to the recent inappropriate 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 ethnical principles and diverse and inclusive culture of our sport are of the utmost importance to the FIA and Formula 1.”