Haas and Uralkali finally settle their differences
The situation became complicated during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, when bailiffs sent by the Dutch authorities threatened to prevent Haas from leaving Zandvoort. Sent by Uralkali after several months of legal wrangling, Haas is finally free to leave.
The Haas F1 team has definitively ended the long legal battle with its former sponsor Uralkali. The American team will finally leave Zandvoort to join the rest of the grid at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.
The conflict dates back to the beginning of the 2022 season, when Haas terminated its sponsorship agreement with Uralkali, a company from Russia. The team had ended their collaboration following the invasion of Ukraine. Despite the contract breach, Haas had already received a significant portion of the money and had used it. This led Uralkali to demand repayment through legal means.
The last conflict between the two parties
During the weekend in Zandvoort, bailiffs entered the paddock to assess Haas’ equipment after the team refused to pay its sponsor within the specified timeframe. During the trial, the Swiss court had ruled that the team should pay $12 million in compensation and seize Nikita Mazepin’s 2021 car. But after radio silence from the American team, the Russian firm involved Dutch authorities.
If the situation has surprised, it is because the team could have missed the Italian Grand Prix this week. With equipment stuck in the Netherlands this morning, Haas were still present in the paddock. However, after months of media war, the situation finally comes to an end. In a statement sent by Uralkali, the Russian company confirms that the team has made the full payment, including interest and fees as well as the Formula 1 car. Uralkali confirms that we have received in full the payment due from Haas, including interest and fees. We have also recovered the race car owed to us under the sponsorship agreement, as read in the official statement.
Before the announcement, the team had already announced that they had taken the necessary steps since Friday. But until now, the Russian company had not received the payment. With the official end of this matter, Uralkali informed the Dutch authorities that they could release Haas’ equipment, the team’s trucks, and allow the team to leave Zandvoort. The team will now be able to hit the road towards Monza for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.
After more than a year, the conflict is finally resolved. Haas will now be able to focus on their place in the championship. With 27 points so far, the American team still has a few races to climb in the rankings. Uralkali, on the other hand, plans to use the funds returned by the team to increase its ability to ensure a stable food supply, they declared.
