F1 fans slam "dangerous" Nikita Mazepin after Nicholas Latifi crash at Imola GP

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F1 fans have taken aim at Nikita Mazepin for his involvement in Nicholas Latifi's crash in the opening laps of the Imola Grand Prix.

But the Russian wasn't actually to blame for the incident, despite his tendency to race dangerously.

Mazepin did make contact with Latifi, which forced the Williams driver to collide with the barriers.

But as the youngster explained on his radio, Latifi moved into his path and would have forced him onto the grass.

That didn't stop Formula 1 fans taking aim at Mazepin on social media, just weeks after the F1 newcomer was criticised for exiting the Bahrain Grand Prix in the early stages.

"Mazepin is an absolute danger on the grid wtf," one fan tweeted.

"Of course it’s Mazepin in a crash!" another noted.

"Mazepin drives like a butcher on the track," said a third.

Mazepin continued with the race as Latifi bowed out – but his Haas team-mate Mick Schumacher was left 50 seconds behind the pack after seven laps following a mistake leaving the pit lane.

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    • "I'm so annoyed!" said the son of F1 icon Michael Schumacher, as the youngster made his way back to the pit lane to have his nose cone replaced.

    The wet conditions certainly didn't help the drivers, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc spinning off the track during the formation lap.

    There was also drama on the opening lap as Max Verstappen and title rival Lewis Hamilton clashed into turn two.

    The Mercedes man started on pole but Verstappen, who started third on the grid, got off to a great start to overtake his counterpart early on.

    Hamilton's car was left damaged as the pair jostled for position, with his front left wing took the brunt of the impact.

    Verstappen found himself with a five-second lead on lap 10, as he looks to avenge his unlucky defeat at Bahrain last time out.

    • F1
    • Formula One
    • Ferrari
    • Mercedes
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Max Verstappen
    • Michael Schumacher

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