Russians demand payment from Haas – ‘or else’. When Haas F1 rolled out their VF-21 2021 challenger, there were sniggers behind closed doors in the paddock. The livery may have been red, white and blue but it was not in the style of the American flag above the team’s HQ.

At the time the world anti-doping agency (WADA) had banned athletes competing under a Russian identity and the federation’s flag was also forbidden. The livery was said to represent Russia and investigated by WADA, but in the end the team was allowed to continue with its chosen colours.

This was a pivotal year for the American owned team. As DTS documented behind the scenes, a row had broken out the previous year between Gene Haas and his team principal Guenther Steiner. The latter claimed the racing outfit needed more budget and Haas response was to go and find it.

 

 

 

Global events overtake Haas F1

So for 2021 in came Mick Schumacher with plenty of sponsorship but the biggie was young Russian driver Nikita Mazepin with his Oligarch father’s billions behind him. Uralkali became the named sponsor of the Haas F1 team, but with Rookies Schumacher and Mazepin the team failed to score points that year.

For 2022 Haas announced they were retaining their driver lineup – together with the tens of millions in cash they brought – but global events were soon to scupper their plans. On February 24th the tanks of the Russian Federation rolled across the border into Ukraine which eventually sparked sanctions on Russians and their businesses.

This was to include Uralkali and Nikita Mazepin himself, with the Russian driver being replaced by ex-Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. Uralkali was dropped from the list of Haas sponsors and all reference to the Russian energy company was removed from the car’s livery.

Nikita Mazepin in march this year, overturned the sanctions placed on him by the EU following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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Nikita Mazepin ban lifted

Since Uralchem subsidiary Uralkali had sponsored Haas during Mazepin’s time there, the EU ruled that the driver, by association, should also be sanctioned. It said: “He is a natural person associated with a leading businessperson [his father] involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine,” said the statement issued at the time.

The original ruling banning Nikita was overturned because he no longer drives for Uralkali, yet his claims he is pursuing a return to F1 are dubious given his poor performance when given the opportunity.

Uralkali have now sought recompense from Haas F1 for the sponsorship they had delivered up front for the 2022 season. The Russian organisation listed the matter for a hearing at an arbitration tribunal regulated under Swiss arbitration rules. A ruling was made last month bringing to an end the case, but both sides claimed victory.

Haas admitted they had been ordered to repay the proportion of the sponsorship for the year beyond March 4 when the contract was cancelled. This is reportedly around $9m of the $13m sent to the team, but Uralkali are now demanding further recompense due to Haas delay.

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Russians demand delivery of F1 car

Further the Russians claim under the original deal they were to receive on. Of the full working Haas cars from the 2022 season.

A statement from Uralkali reads: “According to the June 12, 2024 ruling of a Swiss arbitral tribunal, the Formula 1 Haas team was obligated to pay the balance of sponsorship money from its terminated contract with Uralkali plus interest plus arbitration costs effective immediately.

“Likewise, Haas was given one month by the tribunal to deliver a team race car from the 2021 season to Uralkali as provided by the sponsorship contract that was unilaterally terminated by Haas in March, 2022.

“Regretfully, neither the money (plus interest plus costs) has been paid, nor the race car delivered by the required deadline. A letter sent by Uralkali to Haas in early July providing options for the delivery of the race car to take place went unanswered. Further interest on the awarded sum continues to accrue. However, Uralkali are claiming that this deadline has now passed without payment and Haas were also due to deliver to them a 2021 race car, which they have not.”

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“All means ” will be used to recover money

A Russian spokesperson for Uralkali ironically now accuses Haas of ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour.’

“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,” they said.

“This gives new meaning to the expression ‘unsportsmanlike conduct.’

The statement continues claiming, “Uralkali will use all means provided for under the law to see that the ruling is implemented.

“Let all current and potential Haas sponsors be aware of the kind of treatment that may await them.”

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Haas F1 set to announce Esteban Ocon

Of course Haas F1 now partner with Moneygram who eventually replaced Uralkali, yet its uncertain how the Russians intend to recover the monies allegedly owed given the company remains identified on the EU sanctions list.

Having finally ditched the rookie driver experiment, Haas F1 fortunes have improved significantly since the arrival in 2023 of Nico Hulkenberg to partner Magnussen.

Following last season the American team were bottom of the pile, but they currently are P7 in the championship, just four points behind the RB team and well ahead of the bottom three.

An inside source quoted y the editor of F1Planet claimed this week that Mercedes and Haas will announce the recruitment of Esteban Ocon for 2025 this weekend in Hungary, Toto Wolff is still the French driver’s manager and with opportunities for drivers out of contract next year ever diminishing, this appears about the best Esteban can hope for following his fall to with Alpine. 

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More expert doubts over FIA 2026 regulations

The FIA recently published the Formula One regulations for the 2026 season which will include new powertrains along with new car design specifications too. The rules have been development in conjunction with inout from the teams and the powertrains in particular were the wish of the manufacturers.

The biggest move is to increase the amount of electrical power available three fold so now the internal combustion engine (ICE) will produce just half of the total output with the rest coming from the batteries.

Christian Horner was the first to raise concerns last summer over how the power units will, operate. He claimed that at certain ‘power hungry’ tracks like Monza and Spa Francorchamps the ICE will be merely a generator for the batteries on the longer straights which in itself seems pointless…. READ MORE