Haas’ battle with its former sponsor took a brand new twist at this time when bailiffs tried to grab the American outfit’s belongings.
The Russian potash big, which was dropped because the crew’s title sponsor – together with driver Nikita Mazepin – when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, is demanding a refund of $13m (£10.2m) in sponsorship cash, along with $8.6m (£6.8m) in compensation, whereas Haas alleges it’s nonetheless owed €8m (£6.7m).
The case went to arbitration however Haas failed to satisfy the deadline in paying the stability of sponsorship cash owed as agreed by the Swiss tribunal.
Bailiffs, accompanied by the police, visited the crew on Thursday night and whereas, following a full stock, an settlement was reached whereby the crew can proceed to contest this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix none of its tools – together with the automobiles – can depart till cost has been made.
“Haas absolutely intends to pay to Uralkali all quantities due pursuant to the arbitration award, and there’s no dispute over the quantities owed,” reads a press release issued by the American crew.
“Haas has been working with its attorneys to make sure cost will adjust to all related US, EU, UK and Swiss sanctions and rules,” it continued. “We are going to proceed working with Uralkali within the coming days to resolve this matter definitively.”
“We’re conscious that Dutch bailiffs, accompanied by police, final night time arrived on the Haas paddock and took a list of all racing tools and different property,” res[ponded Uralkali in its own statement.
“This is the expected consequence of Haas’ refusal to obey the ruling of arbitrage awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali.
“The arbitral ruling was issued June 12 with immediate effect and has been ignored by Haas. Haas has had over two months to implement the ruling, and, as was reported previously, Uralkali reached out to Haas’ representatives with options about how to make payment and where to send the race car, without ever receiving a substantive answer.
“There are not now and never have been any sanctions issues preventing Haas from fulfilling its obligations. Nevertheless, they have gone unfulfilled.
“We are delighted to hear that, following last night’s visit from Dutch authorities, Haas is finally paying attention to the arbitral ruling.
“Uralkali wants nothing more than to receive what it was awarded during a fair judicial process and hopes that Haas will move quickly to rectify the situation so that all sides can move on.”
If nothing else, it could make an interesting sub-plot to the F1 movie, not forgetting the fact that with all the teams said to be worth in the region of $1bn – according to Zak Brown – a few million should be a drop in the ocean for the American outfit.
