Things are heating up between Uralkali and Haas F1! 🎯 The former title sponsor of Haas claims the team has failed to pay back a hefty amount, adding more drama to their already strained relationship.
Last month, a Swiss arbitration court ruled on a dispute between the American-owned F1 team and its former Russian sponsor, Uralkali. The conflict arose after Haas abruptly ended Uralkali’s sponsorship and dropped driver Nikita Mazepin following the 2022 Ukraine invasion. The court sided with Haas, affirming they were justified in ending the deal the way they did, meaning no compensation was owed.
However, there’s a twist. The court also decided that Haas must return a portion of the $13 million sponsorship fee that extended beyond the contract’s cancellation date of March 4, 2022. This balance, roughly $9 million, plus interest and costs, was supposed to be paid back to Uralkali. Additionally, there was a clause requiring Haas to deliver a 2021 team race car to Uralkali.
On Tuesday, Uralkali dropped a bombshell, stating that Haas has missed the court-imposed deadline for both the payment and the car delivery. ‘Regretfully, neither the money (plus interest plus costs) has been paid, nor the race car delivered by the required deadline,’ the statement read. They also mentioned that a letter sent in early July about the car’s delivery was ignored.
A representative from Uralkali didn’t hold back, saying, ‘Haas’ failure to execute the required transfers is a flagrant violation of the tribunal’s award as determined by an arbitration process signed on to by both sides. This gives new meaning to the expression “unsportsmanlike conduct.” Uralkali will use all means provided for under the law to see that the ruling is implemented.’ The harsh words didn’t stop there, as Uralkali warned other potential sponsors to be wary of Haas’ behavior.
Meanwhile, Haas has kept mum on the issue, declining to comment when approached for a statement. This silence leaves many questions unanswered and the motorsport community buzzing about what’s next. The stakes are high, and neither side seems to be backing down, making this a storyline worth watching.
All eyes are now on Haas to see how they navigate this mess. With millions of dollars and a race car in the balance, the drama between Uralkali and Haas doesn’t seem to be cooling down anytime soon. Buckle up, folks—this ride is far from over.
Source: Motorsport
